Is there still a Conservative Party?

Anniebach

When Labour members were campaigning to remain, come the televised leaders debate Corbyn went on holiday

Corbyn was never pro-EU. He voted against everything to do with them, except when he was on holiday.🙄

I left the Labour party, after many years, when he was leader, and only rejoined when Starmer got the role.

As for Owen Jones - he's one of the reasons I don't bother with the Guardian any more.

I too left the party and rejoined when Starmer became leader.

Diamond thanks - your post applies to me. There are a lot of us

I think that the answer to the question in the OP is to look at what has always been solid Tory territory and understand what is happening in places like Guildford, Godalming and Horsham and villages like Steyning in Sussex.

The population in these charming towns have always identified with the conservative values, and these people are generally “pretty centrist, pretty moderate, very tolerant, pro-European, pretty compassionate and reasonable and very well educated” ( Follows)
This more or less sums up my children’s neighbours and friends.

But what they have been witness to is the Tory party moving more and more right wing as well as tearing the country apart in the name of a disastrous Brexit - for which most of them did not vote. The culture wars are not playing out well either, particularly with my grandchildren’s age group, and I suspect that they will never contemplate voting Tory as the political party stands at present.
I’m not sure that the Tories will ever get their vote.

Ww2 well that’s one point of view. The other is that there’s a slow economic recovery with prices coming down at the pumps and a possible 2p tax cut. I imagine more ‘incentives’ will be on the table by 2024.
The war in Ukraine might be over by then which would help our economy if we haven’t been annihilated by a nuclear strike and so on. Of course, we might be
seeing the start of another pandemic or war …. I am sorry if the good folk of Guildford, Goldalming and Horsham have lost their critical thinking skills but it’s probably caused by drinking too much coffee!

ronib

Ww2 well that’s one point of view. The other is that there’s a slow economic recovery with prices coming down at the pumps and a possible 2p tax cut. I imagine more ‘incentives’ will be on the table by 2024.
The war in Ukraine might be over by then which would help our economy if we haven’t been annihilated by a nuclear strike and so on. Of course, we might be
seeing the start of another pandemic or war …. I am sorry if the good folk of Guildford, Goldalming and Horsham have lost their critical thinking skills but it’s probably caused by drinking too much coffee!

Is that a point of view or a case of swallowing the government rhetoric hook line and sinker?
It is true that diesel prices have come down, but they were artificially inflated for months for no good reason other than profits to the oil companies.

I have no way of knowing for sure but voters will be feeling much less under seige around the time of the election.
Nope I don’t fall hook line or sinker for political parties- too old to be conned.

ronib

I have no way of knowing for sure but voters will be feeling much less under seige around the time of the election.
Nope I don’t fall hook line or sinker for political parties- too old to be conned.

They won’t ronib, most voters are not naive enough to fall for a few last ditch attempts to save the government’s bacon. Poll after poll is indicating that people don’t think Brexit has worked, don’t rate the government, think public services are failing, etc. etc.
it’s just the rhetoric of a dying administration.

It is because they use their critical thinking skills that they are turning from the Tory party. Bribery in the form of tax cuts etc won’t cut it I’m afraid. Their critical skills are honed on the Tory performance over the past decade or so, and they are pretty appalled.

I think more people are concerned with the price of food than the price of petrol and it is still rising

Yes, and the cost of living crises is also being felt by the middle income group now, not so keenly but nevertheless they are noticing a difference.

Ww2 pretty appalled not confined to the Home Counties btw - hope no government of any party ever gains an 80 seat majority ! Single party misgovernment is not working for the Uk.

Glorianny

I think more people are concerned with the price of food than the price of petrol and it is still rising

Glorianny depends on the demographic? My son was very relieved to see the price of fuel begin to decrease as he does drive to work daily. Also fuel price reduction should help with the cost of food transportation?

Whitewavemark2

Yes, and the cost of living crises is also being felt by the middle income group now, not so keenly but nevertheless they are noticing a difference.

Middle income groups are being badly affected by the ridiculous interest rate rises that the Bank of England keep inflicting on us. Their mortgage repayments are rocketing.

Mortgage repayments aren't counted in the 'basket' of goods which are used to measure inflation. So, even if inflation 'looks' as though it is coming down they are still being squeezed.

Of course, a lowered inflation rate doesn't mean that the cost of living is easing for anyone, prices are still high, they're just not rising as fast.

Wages aren't keeping pace with inflation, so more and more people are just poorer. I can't see the government doing anything to ease this before the next election.

ronib

Ww2 pretty appalled not confined to the Home Counties btw - hope no government of any party ever gains an 80 seat majority ! Single party misgovernment is not working for the Uk.

That is a lesson we should have learned after the Thatcher government!

Interesting that posters mention taxes. The Conservatives have raised taxes.

Both parties are useless here, very little difference. Still, it is good to have hope I suppose. Don’t like the look of any of your lot and same applies here. Labour/ Liberal /Conservative are all out for themselves and couldn’t govern their way out of a paper bag. Wouldn’t it be nice to have strong politicians who are trustworthy and sensible ? Where did they go ?

MaizieD Tony Blair’s majority of 179 seats in 1997 ??

ronib

MaizieD Tony Blair’s majority of 179 seats in 1997 ??

Fortunately Blair's government was much better than the preceding tory governments. But it's a lottery. Can't guarantee that big majorities = good government. We know that to our cost over the past 3 years.

I'd be much happier with smaller majorities and more regard for minorities... PR being the way to go...

Glorianny

I think more people are concerned with the price of food than the price of petrol and it is still rising

Doesn’t the price of petrol alsoaffect the price of food?

It does. And it might help but the new regulations will cost far more to implement so food prices will still rise. www.politico.eu/article/uk-business-fear-brexit-checks-food-price-inflation/

What do you think of Starmer banning mayor Ian Driscol from standing to be reelected. This is not democracy. Don't you find it scary that he would ban him to stop members choosing who they want to elect? Undemocratic.

Grany

What do you think of Starmer banning mayor Ian Driscol from standing to be reelected. This is not democracy. Don't you find it scary that he would ban him to stop members choosing who they want to elect? Undemocratic.

I’ll be honest Grany and say that I think it has absolutely nothing to do with this thread. Nada. If you want to discuss start a thread.

I meant Jamie Driscol

Starmer is Conservative we are discussing conservatism
Casdon

Grany

I meant Jamie Driscol

Starmer is Conservative we are discussing conservatism
Casdon

No, Grany, it’s Conservative with a capital C - ie the Conservative Party. Introducing erroneous jibes at the Labour Party leader are irrelevant to this thread, so just start your own if you want to discuss the issue you’ve raised. Threads do meander, but that is a complete change of subject.