End of tradition? A brief reflection
Are we about to witness the final Americanisation of British politics? If so, we should all be cautious what we wish for as Labour surges ahead.
"And if Farage comes back, the Conservative Party essentially won't exist by Christmas".
We are about the witness the end of an English tradition of conservatism begun with Sir John Fortescu (judge, 1394-1479), made famous by Sir Thomas Elyot (diplomat, scholar 1496-1546) extending to John Aylmer (Bishop, constitutionalist 1521-1594) and Edmund Burke. The modern crop of Tory politicians can only blame themselves, they don't even know their own heritage never mind look back to renew.
So ends the greatest conservative tradition in political history. It's actually rather sad, in its own way. Why do I say so? After all, I’m a Scottish Labour member, but I realise what comes next.
Replacing it? The tawdry populism of Farage. Nobody on the left should delight in this inflection point. At all.
The Americanisation of British politics is well underway, and the 'new right' (totally disconnected from any tory tradition) are the tail wagging to Conservative grass roots dog. I struggle to imagine how the Conservatives - with such a deficit of intellectual talent based on their own traditions - can recover the moment.
They'll simply sink harder into the 'team Rwanda/Braverman' wing.
Heritage? Gone. Knowledge of fine old English cultural/political tradition? Forgotten. What's next? Little except culture wars hysteria about 'trans, gays, God and immigrants'.
If you’ll excuse me for being frank but fuck me, the future is bleak if Farage is what comes next on the mainstream right. Even if Labour wins the next General Election, political gravity exists, and one day whatever political outfit emerges from the ruins of a once fine Tory political socio-cultural heritage inevitably takes power.
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It's lovely to hear you talk about that rich tradition that I also value hugely. I can't help reflecting upon the further democratisation of communication that social and this type of media has brought. As when the printing presses started pressing and Luther started publishing. You blame Farage! I would also blame an out of touch political class who refuse to engage and win over a majority. Like popes in the 16th century.
You say "It's actually rather sad, in its own way. "It is far more than that! But blaming Farage and American style populism is mere words Dean. No-one has paid real political attention to the unfashionable beliefs of a majority of voters on things like gender, and immigration. You do it now writing it all off as "culture wars hysteria about 'trans, gays, God and immigrants'.". The disease, as you see it is growing in the dark and damp because no-one will engage with it. Kinda like Popes in the 16th Century. 30 Years war? I shudder to think some times.
You missed out Disraeli, Kant and Hume too only. TBF only one of them was English ;-)
If conservatism began 600+ years ago, it's about time it evolved.
Men were men back then but, apparently, that's changed and men can now be women.
The left have driven a change the right haven't yet to overcome.
If that change is Farage, then so be it - maybe whatever he proposes will be here for the next 600 years