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As a British former moderate conservative who's abandoned the party, though in truth I feel the party has abandoned me, I see a UK conservative party that has f

As a British former moderate conservative who's abandoned the party, though in truth I feel the party has abandoned me, I see a UK conservative party that has followed a very, very similar transition. Moderate conservatism has just been kicked out of the party. It's now a radical ideology captured by libertarian think tanks in American image -- and several of them funded by the US. The conservative party is now the ERG party or Way Forward party. There is no space in the party for a Dominic Raab, Ken Clarke or Michael Heseltine, or One Nation policies -- once the bastion and bedrock of post-war conservatism, or even being in favour of a mild exit deal with the EU. Just dogmatic pursuit of blind, disproven policies for the benefit of a tiny minority such as the joke of austerity, closure and gutting of services many former Conservatives actually built and developed in former decades. For all her dogma on the Poll Tax, Thatcher could listen and understood the scientific advice, privatisation of many services that were eventually sold off were, to her, beyond the pale. She had her limits too, she did not and could not understand society, and people within it. Thatcher's first set of ministers contained Whitelaw, Lord Carrington -- possibly the last high ranking UK politician of any party with an innate sense of ethics and standards, Heseltine, Pym, Prior and many others I forget, who wouldn't be welcome in today's party, let alone get a ministry. Plenty to bring some balance to cabinet, to moderate the extremism of the mad monk who invented Thatcherism -- Keith Joseph. Of course Joseph was the creator of one of those first extreme libertarian think tanks, the Institute of Policy Studies. One Nation Conservatism, and moderate conservatism is dead. There's a radical party that uses the same name. They even adopted a bunch of US Republican voter suppression tactics in this election, page 48 of the manifesto. Promoting the suppression of democracy as policy aim! Gerrymandering constituency boundaries, picture ID to vote in a country that requires no ID -- knowing full well that hits the poor and minorities hardest (Who might well not be inclined to vote Tory), politicising the Judiciary. No, the Conservative party of yore no longer exists. Before long we'll be back to buying votes.

simonh 7y ago
I think we’re heading in that direction, but it’s such a recent shift in direction that hopefully it’s just a contingent reaction to the outcome of the referendum. I’m a remainer, but I think once we’re out if the E.U. the party will re-centre itself on its basic priorities. Mistakes always happen in politics, if you’re not making mistakes you can’t be doing anything worthwhile. Austerity went too far, but fundamentally had to be done. Leaving the EU Is a mistake, but given the referendum the party had to commit itself to delivering what it promised. That’s my take anyway.
- NeedMoreTea 7y ago
  Not so recent, it's been a steady transition since the silliness under Major with the rebels over Maastricht. Labour were almost as split at the time. My problem is they've become a party of international finance, hedge funds and so on. No longer is a conservative MP or Lord the former exec of a successful FTSE company, or something in the city, which of course is now mainly US. The policies benefit international finance not Britain and the British, candidates are selected accordingly. Rees Mogg being perfect example. I can imagine a Churchill, Macmillan, Heath or even Heseltine or Thatcher putting through the environmental parts of Labour's manifesto -- that's good One Nation Conservatism without the parts remaking capitalism. No one since though. Thatcher fully believed the science, and made a UN speech in 89, and many others, calling for world climate action way beyond anything that's actually happened. Churchill did so much to create the European Court of Human rights and Convention. The referendum campaign basically promised no deal was not possible, so yes they should deliver what was promised. Though allowing a referendum without supermajority so we're forever stuck at 50:50 was madness. Austerity was dogma from day one -- no one overspent, it was a global banking bubble, but gave an excuse to push libertarian shrinking of government. Yet QE was full on Keynes, just this time for the benefit of international finance, not the country. Every event kicks the fringe to the centre, and remakes the party a little further off centre. That's my take. Internet politics is of course mostly futile, have a peaceful and prosperous New Year. :)

simonh 7y ago

I think we’re heading in that direction, but it’s such a recent shift in direction that hopefully it’s just a contingent reaction to the outcome of the referendum. I’m a remainer, but I think once we’re out if the E.U. the party will re-centre itself on its basic priorities. Mistakes always happen in politics, if you’re not making mistakes you can’t be doing anything worthwhile. Austerity went too far, but fundamentally had to be done. Leaving the EU Is a mistake, but given the referendum the party had to commit itself to delivering what it promised. That’s my take anyway.

NeedMoreTea 7y ago
Not so recent, it's been a steady transition since the silliness under Major with the rebels over Maastricht. Labour were almost as split at the time. My problem is they've become a party of international finance, hedge funds and so on. No longer is a conservative MP or Lord the former exec of a successful FTSE company, or something in the city, which of course is now mainly US. The policies benefit international finance not Britain and the British, candidates are selected accordingly. Rees Mogg being perfect example. I can imagine a Churchill, Macmillan, Heath or even Heseltine or Thatcher putting through the environmental parts of Labour's manifesto -- that's good One Nation Conservatism without the parts remaking capitalism. No one since though. Thatcher fully believed the science, and made a UN speech in 89, and many others, calling for world climate action way beyond anything that's actually happened. Churchill did so much to create the European Court of Human rights and Convention. The referendum campaign basically promised no deal was not possible, so yes they should deliver what was promised. Though allowing a referendum without supermajority so we're forever stuck at 50:50 was madness. Austerity was dogma from day one -- no one overspent, it was a global banking bubble, but gave an excuse to push libertarian shrinking of government. Yet QE was full on Keynes, just this time for the benefit of international finance, not the country. Every event kicks the fringe to the centre, and remakes the party a little further off centre. That's my take. Internet politics is of course mostly futile, have a peaceful and prosperous New Year. :)