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There have been times when party chiefs have appeared moderately rational superficially – and alternate phases where they have come across as completely unhinged, yet continued to be cherished by party loyalists. We are not in that situation. One prominent Conservative left the crowd unmoved when she addressed her conference, while she offered the provocative rhetoric of anti-immigration sentiment she believed they wanted.

The issue wasn't that they’d all awakened with a fresh awareness of humanity; rather they lacked faith she’d ever be able to follow through. Effectively, fake vegan meat. Conservatives despise that. An influential party member apparently called it a “New Orleans funeral”: loud, vigorous, but nonetheless a farewell.

What Next for this Party Having Strong Arguments to Make for Itself as the Most Historically Successful Political Organization in History?

Some are having a fresh look at a particular MP, who was a hard “no” at the start of the night – but with proceedings winding down, and rivals has withdrawn. Another group is generating a interest around Katie Lam, a 34-year-old MP of the latest cohort, who presents as a countryside-based politician while wallpapering her online profiles with immigration-critical posts.

Is she poised as the standard-bearer to challenge Reform, now outpolling the Conservatives by a substantial lead? Is there a word for defeating opponents by adopting their policies? And, if there isn’t, maybe we can adopt a term from fighting disciplines?

When Finding Satisfaction In Any of This, in a Downfall Observation Way, in a Consequence-Based Way, One Can See Why – But Completely Irrational

It isn't necessary to consider overseas examples to grasp this point, or consult Daniel Ziblatt’s influential work, Conservative Parties and the Birth of Democracy: your entire mental framework is emphasizing it. Moderate conservatism is the essential firewall preventing the extremist factions.

Ziblatt’s thesis is that representative governments persist by keeping the “elite classes” happy. Personally, I question this as an fundamental rule. It feels as though we’ve been keeping the propertied and powerful for ages, at the expense of everyone else, and they never seem quite happy enough to stop wanting to make cuts out of disability benefits.

But his analysis goes beyond conjecture, it’s an comprehensive document review into the historical German conservative group during the interwar Germany (in parallel to the UK Tories circa 1906). As moderate conservatism falters in conviction, if it commences to pursue the terminology and symbolic politics of the far right, it hands them the direction.

Previous Instances Showed Comparable Behavior In the Referendum Aftermath

The former Prime Minister cosying up to an influential advisor was one particularly egregious example – but radical alignment has become so pronounced now as to obliterate any other Tory talking points. Whatever became of the traditional Tories, who prize continuity, preservation, legal frameworks, the UK reputation on the international platform?

Why have we lost the reformers, who described the United Kingdom in terms of powerhouses, not tension-filled environments? To be clear, I didn't particularly support any of them as well, but it's remarkably noticeable how those worldviews – the one nation Tory, the Cameroonian Conservative – have been marginalized, superseded by relentless demonisation: of migrants, religious groups, welfare recipients and demonstrators.

Appear at Podiums to Music That Sounds Like the Theme Tune to Game of Thrones

And talk about positions they oppose. They characterize demonstrations by elderly peace activists as “displays of hostility” and employ symbols – union flags, patriotic icons, all objects bearing a bold patriotic hues – as an direct confrontation to anyone who doesn’t think that complete national identity is the best thing a individual might attain.

We observe an absence of any natural braking system, where they check back in with core principles, their own hinterland, their own plan. Each incentive the Reform leader presents to them, they pursue. Consequently, no, it’s not fun to watch them implode. They are dragging civil society down with them.