I read with interest and empathy Lady McAlpine’s desire to unite small “c” conservatives in the Conservative Party with those in Reform UK.
Her desire is born out of a palpable despair about the state of our nation. She recognises that without a 180 degree hand brake turn in the manner in which this country is governed, we are going to be driven off a cliff.
She is not alone in labouring under the illusion that the Conservative Party is essentially conservative and just needs to find its way back to core values. Except for a small minority of Parliamentarians, its MPs would be better placed in the Labour Party. The evidence is there for all to see.
For 14 years of Tory governance we have had record levels of debt, taxation and spending. Instead of promoting private enterprise, the state competes with it for access to cash – so hungry it is to feed its debt service requirements. It therefore cares not about cutting taxes on the working/ middle classes and business.
Ben Habib: 'This so-called conservative government has replaced aspiration with dependency and wealth creation with an ever diminishing wealth redistribution. Our economy is going down the drain'
PA
Frankly, it sees small businesses and sole traders as a pain in the neck. It is rather fonder of large corporations that offer jobs to retired politicians.
This so-called conservative government has replaced aspiration with dependency and wealth creation with an ever diminishing wealth redistribution. Our economy is going down the drain.
It has allowed rampant immigration, the undermining of British workers and our labour market. Our public services are consequentially overburdened without the resources to meet the massive increases in demand.
The way we have practiced immigration is tearing at the social fabric of the country. We are suffering all the symptoms of a protracted spell of Labour in office.
Lady McAlpine has correctly identified the problem, but her proposed solution would never work. The Conservative Party does not want it. It will never be persuaded to do it.
There are millions of people in the country yearning for genuine conservative governance, for a proud independent United Kingdom with policy made in the national interest and for the people.
That message was sent loud and clear in 2016 with the vote for Brexit. It was sent again when the Brexit Party, Reform’s predecessor, won the national election for members of the European Parliament and yet again later that year in the general election when the red wall went virtually entirely blue.
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Habib: 'I read with interest and empathy Lady McAlpine’s desire to unite small “c” conservatives in the Conservative Party with those in Reform UK'
PA
But what followed these historic plebiscites was the same old form of labour governance with Brexit betrayed. Keir Starmer loves the EU and so do the majority of Tory MPs.
Nigel Farage tried a form of what Lady McAlpine is suggesting, when he stood down 317 candidates in that 2019 election. In doing so he endorsed Boris Johnson and gave him an open field to do the right thing. We know what followed.
For years I prayed the Conservative Party would become conservative. In the end I left its fold and joined the Brexit Party in 2019.
The coming general election is likely to result in the Conservative Party being obliterated. If it wishes to avoid that outcome, the answer is simple. It does not need a pact or merger with Reform UK, it merely must become conservative.
But so far from conservative principles have its MPs and executives departed that there can be no way back for them. They must not be given any more opportunity to damage the country.
Lady McAlpine should join Reform UK. She would be warmly welcome.