The Tories aren't conservative.


(I don't agree with all of this but I think the analysis is interesting and perceptive, given where it comes from).
For those who don't want to follow the link his argument is basically :

  1. Part of the Conservative Party has fallen out spectacularly with big business. (Over Brexit).

  2. The Conservative Party is not actually conservative, and hasn't been so for a long time, because it has become a party of free market capitalism (or actually big business) neither of which are conservative. (I agree completely with that).

  3. The left also has some serious thinking to do, as to how and why they are on the same side as big business on this issue.

  4. There's likely to be a split in the Tory Party, as there was in 1846 (I would add 1903 as well). If two new parties appear, neither will be conservative. (I broadly agree with that as well - we are likely to have a broadly liberal - or as George would say 'neoliberal' - party and a national collectivist one. We could see a Burkean conservative party appear as one of the two but that is low probability because of the lack of a donor base).

I would add from my own perspective that it is the first of his points that is the most significant. One feature of the emergent kind of right wing politics in developed democracies is that it will very rapidly move away from being pro-business or even pro-market. Vide Trump and all the so-called free marketeers queuing up to support his trade policy.

H2
H3
H4
3 columns
2 columns
1 column
Join the conversation now
Logo
Center