I fear the rise of National Conservatism

and do wonder what current ministers are doing lending their support to this ??

Showing their true colours?

It’s all very worrying and bit sad. I was brought up in a quite right wing, conservative and slightly Church of England household, by lovely middle class parents who were kind, generous and loving people who brought me up to have a strong work ethic, believe in free enterprise, freedom of speech but most importantly freedom to think independently and make up my own mind about my ethics, morals, religious and political leanings - as a result I’m a middle political being, leaning towards the left, with a strong work ethic and strong sense of justice. My parents would not recognise this movement nor class it as conservatism if they were alive today. I agree with Germanshepherdmum that Farage is extremely dangerous and not to be trusted and do wonder what current ministers are doing lending their support to this ??

growstuff

And, yes, the "new conservatives" know very well that people are jealous of Oxbridge elites and have weaponised the spite for their own ends. Sorry to introduce Godwin's Law, but the Nazis did the same - hence the emphasis on "Volk" (people).

Is it jealousy, though, growstuff?. Or is it just frustration at the stranglehold the public school, Oxbridge, elites seem to have regained over so many aspects of public life?

It does seem to me that the people who have weaponised spite are the 'elite' who are in charge at the moment.

My husband thinks that the new conservatives can come up with whatever new ideas and policies it likes. None of them are going to make any headway with the Civil Service so not sure if we can relax or not.

And, yes, the "new conservatives" know very well that people are jealous of Oxbridge elites and have weaponised the spite for their own ends. Sorry to introduce Godwin's Law, but the Nazis did the same - hence the emphasis on "Volk" (people).

ronib

It depends on how you interpret criticism Growstuff - spite is an emotional reaction and isn’t part of objective analysis/criticism. Interesting book though.

I wasn't thinking about spite - more academic criticism, for want of a better word. I follow Goodwin on Twitter and wondered what was behind the push on his book - I see it's advertised on the National Conservative website. The reviews reckon it lacks originality. It's a rehash of old ideas. I'm reluctant to increase his profits by buying it, so maybe I'll have a look in a charity shop in a few weeks. The same ideas were behind a lot of the Brexit propaganda.

It depends on how you interpret criticism Growstuff - spite is an emotional reaction and isn’t part of objective analysis/criticism. Interesting book though.

Fleurpepper

Oreo

Amazes me how much spite attaches itself to anyone who did well at Oxford or Cambridge, I always assume it’s envy.
As to the subject of the OP, I don’t find it terrifying as it will never become mainstream in the conservative party, just as the extreme left won’t become mainstream in the labour party.

Amazes me how you can read the comments above as 'spite about anyone who did well at Oxford and Cambridge'

That's exactly what Goodwin does in his book - criticises the "Oxbridge elite".

ronib

Oreo I must admit that I am struggling a bit with some of the illogical statements issued by the Edmund Burke Foundation. It often seems to me that exceptionally able/academic people often lack common sense. I don’t think this movement will last very long here. I don’t subscribe to some of its fundamental beliefs and I can’t see it making much headway in the Uk in its current format. I can understand why a Christian group would seek to evangelise but this is not for the Uk market.

Have you read the blurb about Matt Goodwin's latest book? It's all about criticising the "elite" (a la Brexit), the argument is contradictory because all it's doing is giving a different "elite" power.

Oreo

Well the labour Party was in the process of being taken over by the extreme left when Corbyn was being idolised but it didn’t happen, they lost the GE big time, threw Corbyn out and stopped listening to the super left lefties.
The same will happen to the conservatives if they go down the extreme right road.

It hasn't so far. And the best of them have been thrown out or left. Unlike what has happened in the Labour Party.

Oreo I must admit that I am struggling a bit with some of the illogical statements issued by the Edmund Burke Foundation. It often seems to me that exceptionally able/academic people often lack common sense. I don’t think this movement will last very long here. I don’t subscribe to some of its fundamental beliefs and I can’t see it making much headway in the Uk in its current format. I can understand why a Christian group would seek to evangelise but this is not for the Uk market.

Well the labour Party was in the process of being taken over by the extreme left when Corbyn was being idolised but it didn’t happen, they lost the GE big time, threw Corbyn out and stopped listening to the super left lefties.
The same will happen to the conservatives if they go down the extreme right road.

Look at what happened to true one nation Conservatives- all pushed out by the ERG- to see that the extreme right has taken over the Cons.

Oreo

Amazes me how much spite attaches itself to anyone who did well at Oxford or Cambridge, I always assume it’s envy.
As to the subject of the OP, I don’t find it terrifying as it will never become mainstream in the conservative party, just as the extreme left won’t become mainstream in the labour party.

Amazes me how you can read the comments above as 'spite about anyone who did well at Oxford and Cambridge'

Amazes me how much spite attaches itself to anyone who did well at Oxford or Cambridge, I always assume it’s envy.
As to the subject of the OP, I don’t find it terrifying as it will never become mainstream in the conservative party, just as the extreme left won’t become mainstream in the labour party.

A double first… nowhere near BJ!

ronib

Growstuff double first in classics from Balliol. Okay not bad! Still quite young.

I think we've had our fill of people with Classics degrees...

Fleurpepper

nationalconservatism.org/national-conservatism-a-statement-of-principles/

Thank you for that link, Fp 😱

ronib

Growstuff I last five minutes listening to Roger Scruton so admire your perseverance!

I feel the same about Harry/Meghan, the RF in general, Get me out of here, Strictly and that cake baking programme.

Observing politics is a hobby.

Growstuff double first in classics from Balliol. Okay not bad! Still quite young.

ronib

GSM okay. Fine. I didn’t claim any gravitas for legal background. Just trying to understand how someone from Cambridge University which usually does have gravitas is involved.

He's an associate professor! Sorry, but there's not a huge amount of gravitas attached to that.

Agreed, and yet many will refuse to see it. And the ERG and Vote Leave were very much part of this.

It seems to me that Brexit was just a first step in the plan by these National Conservatives to push the UK much further to the right.

What do we hear about that agenda from the right wing tabloids?

nationalconservatism.org/national-conservatism-a-statement-of-principles/

Yes, agreed.