As the Guardian reports this morning:
Prominent Conservatives from across the party are now increasingly concerned that a tilt to the right and anger over the handling of Brexit could lead to the party's support collapsing in liberal, home counties seats in the same way that Labour imploded in Scotland in 2015.
I will have to live in anticipation of that pleasure.
It was Micheal Heseltine who got the reason for expecting it right. He reportedly said:
You actually have to like the country in which you live, and want to make it better, in order for the public to want to back you. Harking back to a golden age, with a wish-list of policies that are completely absurd in a modern, developed nation, is for the birds.
In summary, his suggestion is that you do not have to hate this country to be a Tory now, but it most certainly helps.
Of course, the contrast of this observed fact with the language of these Tories, which is all about nationalistic fervour, is just a part of the paradox of the modern Tory.
They love England whilst loathing the other countries of the Union, despite proclaiming their absolute right to govern them in perpetuity.
They hate anyone who has any empathy, but demand that those in possession of that faculty vote for them when they would very obviously be mad to do so.
And they offer economic nirvana when their track record suggests that they can only deliver ruin.
On top of that, every single comment they have to offer makes clear how much they despise most people.
Is there a chance of a 2015 Scottish Labour-style meltdown? The straightforward answer has to be yes. The longer those on the right of the Tories make clear what they really think, the more people are going to appreciate just how much these Tories dislike them. And people don't vote for people who dislike them.
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Whilst I agree with the general direction of the point being made, we both know by now though how the Tories have stayed in power by virtue of the British voter: by lying and playing the blame game (at first it was Labour who had ‘bankrupted us’, then creating false enemies of the state and claiming that they were some sort of bulwark against them).
That is why these people who came in not liking us have endured for so long – because the people they don’t like HAVE voted for them.
That, and the political funding they receive which still is not being dealt with.
We also have to consider another dynamic at play – the internecine fighting within Labour between Left & Right that did little to help it to help us.
And there’s always FPTP and labour’s infernal tribalism PSR, don’t forget how many seats are wom for the tories because the progressive vote is often split.
And yes, their funding advantage plus support from the mostly ‘support the tories whatever they do’ newspapers helps.
This time though, I think they’ve really gone too far. At the current rate, with yet Brexit disasters waiting to happen, even lifelong tory voters wil be deserting them in large numbers. The sheep (very apt for some of them) will not be returning to the fold. Good.
I hope they’re absolutely devastated come the next GE.
As illustration of the toxic hypocrisy of the Conservative Government is provided by the FT. In 2016, on the eve of Brexit net immigration to the UK was 336,000. The FT now reports as follows: “In the coming week, analysts expect new estimates from the Office for National Statistics to show net migration rose to at least double that level last year — a record that is largely the result of government policy choices and has much less to do with clandestine boat arrivals from France” (www.ft.com/content/d06d83e6-15db-4f47-a080-a8d4d2c2e6e8).
There was never, ever any pospect of neoliberal Conservatives giving up on immigration. The claim was a scam. All that happens is the focus of public attention is delibarately drawn to small boats in the channel. Meanwhile the real immigration comes from elsewhere. It isn’t PhD’s either. If London didn’t have a constant supply of immingrant labour to do the most basic jobs, it would fall over.
Patriots love their country: nationalists hate everyone’s else countries
Over simplified but essentially true.
I am not convinced of either claim, to be honest
And the more right wing ones will end up joining labour!