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On various occasions when party chiefs have seemed almost sensible superficially – and alternate phases where they have sounded wildly irrational, yet remained popular by party loyalists. Currently, it's far from such a scenario. Kemi Badenoch left the crowd unmoved when she spoke at her conference, even as she presented the divisive talking points of anti-immigration sentiment she thought they wanted.

This wasn't primarily that they’d all woken up with a revived feeling of humanity; more that they were skeptical she’d ever be able to implement it. In practice, fake vegan meat. Conservatives despise that. A veteran Tory reportedly described it as a “jazz funeral”: boisterous, animated, but ultimately a goodbye.

What Next for the Group Having Strong Arguments to Make for Itself as the Top-Performing Governing Force in Modern Times?

Some are having another squiz at one contender, who was a hard “no” at the start of the night – but now it’s the end, and everyone else has left. Another group is generating a buzz around a newer MP, a young parliamentarian of the 2024 intake, who appears as a traditional Conservative while saturating her socials with immigration-critical posts.

Might she become the standard-bearer to counter the rival party, now leading 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 martial arts?

When Finding Satisfaction In These Developments, in a Schadenfreude Way, in a Consequence-Based Way, That Is Understandable – However Absolutely Bananas

It isn't necessary to look at the US to know this, or reference the scholar's seminal 2017 book, Conservative Parties and the Birth of Democracy: every one of your synapses is screaming it. Moderate conservatism is the crucial barrier against the extremist factions.

The central argument is that democracies survive by satisfying the “wealthy and influential” happy. I’m not wild about it as an fundamental rule. One gets the impression as though we’ve been catering to the privileged groups for ages, at the detriment of the broader population, and they don't typically become quite happy enough to cease desiring to take a bite out of social welfare.

But his analysis goes beyond conjecture, it’s an comprehensive document review into the Weimar-era political organization during the pre-war period (along with the England's ruling party in that historical context). When the mainstream right falters in conviction, when it starts to chase the terminology and gesture-based policies of the radical wing, it cedes the direction.

We Saw Similar Patterns During the Brexit Years

A key figure aligning with an influential advisor was a clear case – but far-right flirtation has become so evident now as to overshadow all remaining Conservative messages. Whatever became of the traditional Tories, who treasure stability, preservation, the constitution, the national prestige on the world stage?

Where did they go the progressives, who portrayed the nation in terms of powerhouses, not powder kegs? To be clear, I didn't particularly support any of them too, but the contrast is dramatic how such perspectives – the broad-church approach, the Cameroonian Conservative – have been eliminated, superseded by constant vilification: of immigrants, Muslims, benefit claimants and activists.

They Walk On Stage to Melodies Evoking the Theme Tune to Game of Thrones

While discussing what they cannot stand for any more. They describe rallies by 75-year-old pacifists as “carnivals of hatred” and display banners – British flags, English symbols, anything with a bold patriotic hues – as an clear provocation to anyone who doesn’t think that complete national identity is the ultimate achievement a human can aspire to.

We observe an absence of any built-in restraint, where they check back in with core principles, their historical context, their stated objectives. Whatever provocation the political figure throws for them, they follow. Therefore, no, it isn't enjoyable to watch them implode. They’re taking social cohesion down with them.