Brexit: Destroyer of the Conservative Party?

Brendan Donnelly and John Stevens discuss the effects of Brexit on the internal cohesion of the Conservative Party. They argue that, while the referendum of 2016 was intended to heal Conservative divisions, Brexit has exacerbated divisions within the Party, probably irreparably.

SPEAKERS
Brendan Donnelly is the Director of the Federal Trust and a former Conservative MEP.
John Stevens is the Chair of the Federal Trust and an analyst and commentator on economic affairs.

ABOUT THE FEDERAL TRUST
The Federal Trust is a research institute studying regional, national, European and global levels of government. It has always had a particular interest in the European Union and Britain’s place in it. The Federal Trust has no allegiance to any political party. It is registered as a charity for the purposes of education and research.

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Picture of Boris Johnson (background removed by Federal Trust):
Prime Minister Boris Johnson visits Nuclear Power Station, 01/09/2022.

Image of Theresa May (cropped and background removed by Federal Trust):

[michaelmouse]

The brexit Paradox is that any govt capable of delivering brexit wouldn't

[axelcobelo]

I like listening to the discussions here at the Federal Trust because it show me that there still are sane people in the UK, a country that I once so much admired and that has disappointed me so much as of late

[longhaulblue]

Great discussion as always. This type of focussed discussion is an antidote to the relentless news cycle that makes people tune out.

[andrewblewett]

Great discussion as always thank you. It raises the question of what on earth are centre-right one-nation tories supposed to do to secure their future up against a hard right local party membership and impending electoral doom? I’m not a Conservative voter and never have been but I take the view that the radicalisation of the Conservative Party is a disaster for Britain, starting with excessive attachment to austerity and then to Brexit - which are linked of course. Neither policy is now popular. My sense is that the Tories need to split and the sooner the better, so they can slug this out in opposition and we can hope that a new sensible Tory party rises from the ashes. The Labour Party under Starmer is happy to take the centrist mantle and meanwhile the Tories survived the Corn Law repeal, they’ll survive this. Far right Tory politics needs to be put back into its box along with Powellism and Faragism etc. I entirely agree that the key to the future is some form of economic recovery - the two components to which are European revival and green transition/recovery. The make Brexit work concept is dead in the water. The Tories have forgotten that the whole point of the Atlantic alliance is not love of America, it’s tying the US into protecting continental Europe from various tyrants - which is in danger of becoming existential for the EU and us. Another point here but it seems to me that the UK could yet trade active participation and leadership in an anti-Putin alliance for a soft re-entry into the EU or at least access to markets on favourable terms, although it may be the window for this is narrow and it would require deft and courageous management which may or may not be available

[michaelgoss]

Thank you, a very good and interesting talk.

[ravenuk]

It was always going to fail, the Tories couldnt run a bath.

[Gargamel-n-Rudmilla]

Our multicultural society is the direct result of colonilism and slavery both of which were the disires and wishes of the British monarchy, the elite and Goverment .
Then came the second world war which saw the great need for Britain to be rebuilt and Britian turned to the colonies for workers.
Thus again at the express wish of the Government and consecutive Governments at that.

The time had to come when even the most hardest racist in Britain had to recognise that these immegrants had put down roots and had rights and one such right was natralisation and citizenship.
There were a few who had alway planned to use and abuse and then disgard workers of the colonies by sending them back which was the view of a few politicians including Mosely, who is a hero of Farage, which makes perfect sense.

So my point is that very few jounalists and politicians seem to recognise that British multiculturalism was designed and desired and mandated for, it was not shoved down the throat of Britian by the EU or US. So take ownerahip of it, warts and all.
Trying to approach it as if it was some kind of imposition is laughable and sounds like buyers remorse more than anything.

[perjensen]

As the lyrics goes; “it was supposed to be so easy.”.

[childoftheuniverse]

Today's UK is a s**t show with the brexiturds in the main roles.

[Al-Hunt]

I'll never forget the Tories claiming that leaving the EU would mean that they could invest more money into the NHS. Then they cheered in parliament straight after the referendum when they managed to pass a bill to ban the NHS from getting a pay rise for another 5 years.

[kevonslims]

The conservatives used to also have members who knew what they were doing, they were statements who knew how the world operated, look a braverman, mogg, badenoch, patel and tell me theses people have any idea how governance work?

[ganrimmonim]

I'm Jewish (and okay, I'm a leftleaning centerist, so my vote was never up for grabs). However, the GOP racism is making me feel unhappy and unsafe. Okay, I don't appear to be at the top of the racist list, but I have no doubt that I am on it. I'm not sure what 'woke' is the last time I was called. Woke was when I was talking about having a chat with a police officer (I hadn't even knowingly used the term) rather than policeman. We seriously don't want to import this from the US.

[saltydog]

Those that ride tigers are likely to be eaten when they fall off.

[sabinenadal]

Brexit could also destroy the Labour party in the years to come

[ganrimmonim]

What's awful is years after the vote, and nobody can claim the Brexit is going well. People still describe themselves as Brexiteers or Remaineers. Myself included.

[davidpaterson]

Senior Tories (Heseltine, Major, Haig, Cameron) for years predicted that divisions over “Europe” would be the death of the party if they couldn’t find a resolution. The right of the party (ERG particularly) said this was just a scare story to keep the party in line. Turns out it was true.

The root cause of all of this is the failure of the British ruling class (90% Tories) to come to terms with the loss of Empire. “Lost an empire and not yet found a role” as US Secretary of State Dean Acheson aptly described it in the 1960s.

[pedrapioan]

Well I'm not a fan of the conservatives, not an out and out enemy either I am aware that there were many decent people who were small c conservatives. But this current lot are beyond the pale!!! 🤢 So hopefully Brexit will do for them as it undoubtedly has for the four Nations & Kernow🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 N- 🇮🇪 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[PlanofBattle]

America also has federalism and a strong disposition against centralisation. Americans would say that there is little economic freedom without political freedom. The Tories are foremost a party of centralisation of political power. Labour are similar. Americans also value their rights. Many Tories are opposed to the very concept. So the idea that the Tories favour a UK like the US is simply not credible. It is as laughable as those who felt Britain could become Singapore upon Thames without truly understanding how Singapore truly functions.

[joea]

Insightful and plausible course for our turbulent politics. Great discussion.

[Jamal-Ahmed]

Brexit destroyed the country, but mpre so the tory party