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Throughout history when Conservative leaders have seemed almost sensible on the surface – and alternate phases where they have come across as animal crackers, yet continued to be cherished by their party. Currently, it's far from either of those times. One prominent Conservative didn't energize the audience when she spoke at her conference, even as she offered the red meat of anti-immigration sentiment she assumed they wanted.

It’s not so much that they’d all woken up with a fresh awareness of humanity; more that they lacked faith she’d ever be equipped to deliver it. In practice, an imitation. Tories hate that. A veteran Tory reportedly described it as a “jazz funeral”: boisterous, animated, but nonetheless a goodbye.

What Next for the Organization With a Decent Case to Make for Itself as the Most Historically Successful Democratic Party in History?

Some are having renewed consideration at Robert Jenrick, who was a hard “no” at the start of the night – but now it’s the end, and everyone else has withdrawn. Some are fostering a interest around Katie Lam, a recently elected representative of the newest members, who presents as a traditional Conservative while filling her online profiles with anti-migrant content.

Might she become the figurehead to challenge the rival party, now surpassing the incumbents by a significant margin? Can we describe for beating your rivals by mirroring their stance? Furthermore, if there isn’t, maybe we can use an expression from fighting disciplines?

If You’re Enjoying Such Events, in a How-the-Mighty-Are-Fallen Way, in a Just-Deserts Way, It's Comprehensible – Yet Absolutely Bananas

You don’t even have to look at the US to understand this, nor read Daniel Ziblatt’s seminal 2017 book, his analysis of political systems: your entire mental framework is emphasizing it. Centrist right-wing parties is the crucial barrier resisting the far right.

His research conclusion is that democracies survive by appeasing the “propertied and powerful” happy. I’m not wild about it as an guiding tenet. One gets the impression as though we’ve been catering to the privileged groups over generations, at the cost of other citizens, and they don't typically become quite happy enough to halt efforts to make cuts out of public assistance.

Yet his research isn’t a hunch, it’s an thorough historical examination into the pre-Nazi German National People’s Party during the Weimar Republic (in parallel to the UK Tories in that historical context). Once centrist parties becomes uncertain, when it starts to pursue the terminology and gesture-based policies of the far right, it cedes the steering wheel.

Previous Instances Showed Some of This During the Brexit Years

The former Prime Minister cosying up to Steve Bannon was one particularly egregious example – but far-right flirtation has become so obvious now as to overshadow all remaining Conservative messages. What happened to the traditional Tories, who treasure stability, preservation, legal frameworks, the pride of Britain on the world stage?

Where did they go the progressives, who portrayed the nation in terms of powerhouses, not volatile situations? To be clear, I didn't particularly support any of them too, but the contrast is dramatic how those worldviews – the inclusive conservative, the Cameroonian Conservative – have been marginalized, in favour of relentless demonisation: of immigrants, religious groups, benefit claimants and demonstrators.

Take the Platform to Themes Resembling the Signature Music to the Television Drama

While discussing issues they reject. They describe rallies by older demonstrators as “carnivals of hatred” and employ symbols – British flags, English symbols, anything with a vibrant national tones – as an clear provocation to anyone who doesn’t think that total cultural alignment is the ultimate achievement a person could possibly be.

There doesn’t seem to be any inherent moderation, that prompts reflection with fundamental beliefs, their own hinterland, their stated objectives. Whatever provocation the Reform leader presents to them, they pursue. So, no, it isn't enjoyable to watch them implode. They are dragging social cohesion down with them.