The Conservative Party is becoming conservative again!
Something has shifted within the Conservative Party.
We are climbing in the polls, our policy ideas are gaining traction, and the Labour Government looks completely rudderless (mainly because of the sustained pressured applied by a reinvigorated opposition).
Why is this the case?
The answer is simple: the Conservative Party has rediscovered what it means to be conservative!
Kemi deserves significant credit for this change in direction. She has been authoritative in holding the Government to account through a succession of controversies, she has shown herself to be personable, and most importantly she has put conservative policies back on the table. Although I supported Robert Jenrick in the 2024 leadership contest, I firmly believe if we continue on this path then we will have a good chance to win in 2029.
During the 2024 campaign, one of the most difficult aspects of canvassing was confronting the criticisms of previous Conservative governments. I recall speaking to a lifelong Conservative voter who told me he intended to vote for Reform. His reasoning was: we had failed to control immigration, we had committed the country to the economically illiterate Net-Zero and (the party of supposedly low tax) had presided over the highest tax burden since the Second World War.
Standing on his doorstep, I found it hard to dispute his frustrations. It was clear that he would not be voting for me.
To voters like him, I would now say this: the Conservative Party has rediscovered its purpose. Under Kemi’s leadership, the party is articulating a coherent conservative vision once more. This vision is a belief in personal responsibility, economic freedom and an unapologetic belief in our nation.
The Shadow Cabinet, albeit slower than some would have liked, has begun to get a clear set of policies.
The Shadow Treasury team have promoted Thatcherite economic policies such as scrapping Stamp Duty and introducing a “Golden Economic Rule” designed to allow for tax cuts while also reducing the national debt.
Our Shadow Energy team have come up with common sense policies such as scrapping the clearly unrealistic and economically unworkable target of reaching Net-Zero by 2050 and have been clear that we will use the abundant resources we have in the North Sea to give people and business, cheaper energy.
And finally, our Shadow Home Office team have come up with the most comprehensive plan to stop illegal immigration and protect our national identity. We will leave the ECHR, we will stop benefits for foreign nationals and we will not accept any anti-British ruling from the lanyard classes undermining our national fabric.
But what the Conservative Party does not need now, is a race to the centre ground. ProsperUK, set up by “former” Conservative politicians, simply does not understand what the electorate want. From the Brexit Coast of Kent and Essex to the Red Wall, the electorate want a Conservative Party that is actually conservative.
It is in this light that I am immensely pleased that Kemi has said that she will not be following the arguments of ProsperUK and that she will keep right on.
The Conservative Party is coming back: with fresh faces and new ideas, grounded authentic conservative beliefs of smaller state, individual responsibility and trusting people to take more of the decisions over their own lives!
The Conservative Party is becoming conservative again!
