James York is a member of the Beaconsfield Conservative Association and a policymaker in the insurance industry.
In Julia Donaldson’s lovely story, a small snail decides to leave its community rock for a worldly adventure on Whale’s tail. Despite trepidation- it’s liberating, eye-opening, and empowering. Snail returns with inspiring stories – and its kin jumps on for another trip. That story often feels like the allegory that could have been for 21st-century Conservatism.
Tumultuous times lie ahead for the Conservative Party after Labour’s loveless landslide – but as many wrangle about tactical failures; election timing, Brexit botches, COVID embarrassments, or the small boats – few will point to the wider strategic void.
Didn’t this defeat begin long ago when the party failed to add substance to its “big idea(s)”? Instead of taking the bold step – it clung to the rock and missed a new journey entirely.
After Boris Johnson’s defenestration, in a garden in Buckinghamshire, we then listened to Liz Truss answering questions at hustings. Cold dread washed over me. There were few under 50 (the party has succession issues at the grassroots) and she stood reactive, agreeing to every policy request.
“We’re all armed with real-time information – how could we empower voters with more indicative democracy – a feeling that we’re listening after Brexit?” I asked, hoping for inspiration.
“I think we’ve all had enough referendums for one lifetime.” She replied, addressing the wider attendees. I left and immediately voted for Rishi Sunak. He may not have been the bold visionary we needed, either, but Truss was definitely not.
Post-Brexit, hobnailed by the pandemic, the party hadn’t managed to grasp the strategy it needed for voters to continue to see it in good faith. Whilst Nigel Farage insists freedom of movement was the prime motive, sovereignty usually tops the vox pops. Personal Choice. Is that a surprise? The choice is power. People feel powerless. Through choice comes contentment – failure to read the room loses you power.
Having attended several party events, it’s clearer now than ever that too few can describe Conservatism in a way that conveys an inspiring strategic vision. Things usually go down to tax or migration. The hefty Conservative ideal of Personal Choice is forgotten. If the party is to make a comeback, a strategy built around empowering people with more choice could be the only route back.
Brexit was a rare moment for voters to directly shape national strategy. They turned out in their droves, robbed of votes on previous gravitational treaties. Yet, fearful of the electorate’s new voice, the party of Personal Choice failed to reinforce that great gasp of inclusion to its advantage. In our story, we didn’t leave the rock. Everyone said we could – but we didn’t.
Post-Brexit, leadership should first have addressed a glaring constitutional balance – devolution included. With that majority, they could have moved towards the kind of model operated by Switzerland, where citizens get double choice. Empowered counties collect the bulk of front-line taxes (income, corporate, insurance, road) and even have the power to set them – within bounds set by the central government. Regular democratic pulses are taken.
Libraries and Community Centres adorn the constituencies of the UK – that none play host to a novel constituency-by-constituency [indicative] voting booth is a huge missed opportunity. Instead, a whip of Parliamentary power is still clenched with a reddening knuckle, egged on by meagre polls.
Equally missed was any reform of the Lords. We could at least elect some Lords, surely, and create another aspiration? There’s also little to coax world-class talent in this country to the seats of service. Absent was a downward shift in MP numbers, or massive increases to their salary. If you want the best brains, you have to pay. Even more for the perils of that job.
Yet, foremost, the party failed to address the Civil Service. Following our departure from the EU, our amazing Civil Service lost its source of gravity – the Commission. Suddenly, the flow of legislation and thought leadership was inverted. Seismic, leaderless – it recoiled and rebelled against the elected leaders they blamed squarely for it all.
Perhaps we needed that absent EU “President”, after all – alongside our King. To lead the Civil Service and bring them to heal, and fill the void left by Ursula von der Leyen et al.
A British Presidency is a perfect democratic sidekick to the King – if coupled with that smarter devolution mentioned herein. A role to lead the Civil Service, and balance stakeholder power, neutrally. They could be the voters’ ultimate ombudsman. Every parliament, one poor constituency is ridiculously robbed of its MP because of the Speaker. Why not a President? They’d also be a useful dignitary to trot out when enemies visit, or allies need a naughty step (deprived of time with the monarch.) It would also offer another choice at the ballot.
We could go even further – adding a permanent cabinet role for each UK member’s First Minister – and installing an “English Parliament” within the Parliament – where devolved issues reserved for other member states of the Kingdom are debated by the cohort of English MPs.
Controversially, the Union could also be reassured by creating a new Capital City for England (our Little Strasbourg). London the UK’s capital only. It would nullify nationalist attacks on Westminster’s conflict of interest with England.
Like these ideas or laugh at them – they’re strategic and they replace absent power, even forge things anew. They’re a forward-looking journey. Instead, Conservatives lurched from tactical battle to tactical battle. The war was lost in a slow, attritional and confused agony.
Note Starmer’s first move has been to shore up the Union and revisit devolution. He knows the Conservatives have missed the solution – he’ll now impose his own. Starmervision has started shrewdly to satisfy the British public – despite their lack of enthusiasm for him. He may still fail to quench the thirst of a voting public overwhelmed by their own insignificance – there will be another chance.
Next time Personal Choice at the ballot arrives, perhaps that Whale’s tail will look better?
Let’s go on an adventure.
