The Modern Conservative: More Blue rinse than Blue Stocking
One week on from Ben Stokes’ marvelous Headingley innings, I am starting to see a vague parallel with Brexit politicking in London. Both are incredibly exciting, while simultaneously excruciating. The Brexit denouement will be increasingly excruciating, while Stokes’ just become more exciting. With Stokes at the crease success became a possibility through skill and force of character. With Boris Johnson in No. 10 success, for him, disaster perhaps for everyone else (ultimately,) will come from machiavellian skill and a distinct lack of character, or at least honesty and decency.
Since my last post, Johnson indeed played the prorogation card within the bounds of legality, but very arguably without the bounds of constitutional decency. Last night Johnson, via his acolytes, raised the spectre, of removing the whip from any rebel mp’s who may vote against the government this week, essentially deselecting them from any potential and imminent general election as a Conservative candidate.
But two things strike me: an inevitability and a possibility. With a Tory party controlled by an entrenched hard right, the very idea of the traditionally, moderate and reasoned one-nation Tory party is dead. What value for the Ken Clarke, Philip Hammond, Rory Stewart,et al in representing a political unit whose values they do not share? If they are de-selected they should have the courage of their convictions and stand against the New Conservatives…and this might create an opportunity.
I cannot believe that Jeremy Corbyn’s equally hard-left vision offers any real opportunity to modern Britain. If future erstwhile Tories were to fall on their swords electorally (or be re-elected as non-official candidates), a weakened blue-rinse vote may open the door of opportunity to the Liberal Democrats. It could, or more probably be the intelligent opportunity for anyone with sense. In an upcoming election, an outright Labour or Conservative victory is equally unpalatable. If the Liberals were allowed a sizeable number of seats, say the sixty they won in 2010, this would give them a powerful hand to play in a hopefully hung parliament. With recent history and above all Brexit in view, a coalition with the Tories is unthinkable, so Brexit averted. A coalition with Labour would ensure a moderating, centrist hand; once bitten, twice shy.
As it stands, Johnson’s threat puts him in a potential position of minority government. The immediate and median situation, whether legislation, votes of no confidence or a general election, need to be managed delicately and intelligently by all. If their acting in the interests of the country really is their defining code, parrying and defeating Johnson’s machinations are a possibility.
The moderate, intelligent and responsible public will need to act so too; when their opportunity next arrives. It will. I cannot vote, but post-Jean Marie Le Pen in 2002, I took my responsibilities over here in France. Don’t mess up again!
Legless in Burgundy 