Conservative Leadership Bid: Lessons to be Learned

In 1832, the Conservative Party, formally known as the Tories, faced one of its most disastrous electoral defeats after the passage of the franchise extending Great Reform Act, but that was until 2024. If you thought the 1997 defeat of the Tories was diabolical, this year proved record-breaking in measuring the disdain for the main right-wing segment of British politics, for John Major lost 178 seats, obtaining 165, whereas Sunak has fallen from 365 seats to 121, being 251 seats worse.

In light of obliteration, humiliation and degeneration, the Conservative Party, as done after 1997, need to rebuild and provide an alternative voice to such an alarming defeat which has enabled the Labour Party to carry out the functions of an elective dictatorship with their 170-seat majority. However, such redemption is not at all easy due to the rifts present in their organisation, which played a vital role in reducing their seats. Do they go to the right? Or do they plant a flag and really emphasise their party represents the moderate, Cameronesque, conservatism they have seemed to of abandoned? Only through leadership will the public know the ideological intent of the punished former governing party. 

For the Conservatives to even look remotely electable, they need to go back and take advantage of being perceived as organised and disciplined. This is how the Labour Party were able to display a contrasting image, party and choice for the population as they had rarely done under leaders like Hugh Gaitskell and Jeremy Corbyn. Starmer’s Great Moderate Purge saw Old Labour tax and spend candidates exiled from the party, presenting a united front that was antithetical to a cabinet which saw Suella Braverman hold the position of Home Secretary. 

When basing which ideological direction the Conservative Party should take full steer with, it is measurable to see what is most beneficial based on Liberal Democrat and Reform UK victories. It is clear that Lib Dem seats were captured away from the Conservatives in Southern Middle England because of an inherent misrepresentation and scepticism they have with the Labour Party, and the only real areas where the right have succeeded, being Reform seats, being a total 5, are in deep safe conservative seats. Though five isn’t exactly higher than over 60 seats, which have changed hands to the Liberal Democrats. This would therefore suggest that the Conservatives need to return to the Liberal moderate form it was under David Cameron, seeing that the Liberal Democrats reigned more victorious in taking Conservative seats than the Reform Party. Such a judgment, however, neglects the bigger picture. 48% of those who voted Labour, according to YouGov, presided over the newly elected government because they wanted the Tories out, 13% also wanting a change in the country. This can also be applied with the Liberal Democrats, whose Middle England, ex-conservative voters don’t inherently disdain the Tories for what it is but rather for what it has done. Former Conservative voters with Liberal Democrat following do support elements of the right of the party, whilst also recognising the troubles they have brought to the country.

With the ideological principle in mind, to return as the governing party the Conservative’s priority therefore shouldn’t be based on beliefs, instead what they can offer as the opposition to show they can operate ably, which they haven’t been able to since the entrance of Boris Johnson, showing they have reformed and changed suited for public service. As a result, the leader of the party is still of vital importance. Still, this leader should focus on opposing the current government, take a discreet socially right-wing platform, but focus economically on the mistakes of the Labour Party rather than going economically liberal, carrying out their function, which the public has appointed them to. And on the notion of reforming the party, a purge in itself is necessary for them to constructively oppose Labour, paralysing the governing party from the ability to dismiss Conservative opposition over the 14 years of apparent Conservative incompetence.

Whatever it takes, the Conservatives need to return to being disciplined and organised. Only a formidable middle way, appeasing left and right leader is capable of doing so, one who isn’t afraid to restrain big beasts like Braverman. But for this to happen, the Conservative Association itself must let MPs vote, not the membership again, reintroducing another Liz Truss, someone who is of the right of the party and myopically Thatcherite, would make the Conservatives deserve to become unreputable as it once was, being the party of stability. Sensibility is the only option, a pilgrimage to its roots, away from the ghost of Thatcher, which has haunted them today. Whilst at the same time taking on Cameron’s liberal, modern ‘Compassionate Conservatism’ will only make the now free voice of the right overbearing, holding the party to ransom and causing division. 

Jacob Rees-Mogg is wrong the Conservative party needs to go to the right, and so is Rory Stewart who exclaims the Conservatives need to rebound through more liberal progressive views. Not appeasement, but only organisation and discipline will make the Conservative Party an electable party, fulfilling their title as the formal opposition and showing a shred of competence.