The candidates for the Conservative leadership have been announced and are each hoping to be in the final two to be voted on by the membership. Why the Parliamentary Party ultimately get to restrict that choice is neither here nor there. It was in comparatively recent history that they themselves were not given that choice, but the leader was appointed from within and usually by the outgoing leader.
Just prior to the general election and his stepping down as a long-serving Conservative MP, Sir John Redwood, shared his thoughts with the Bruges Group, including his opinion of good Conservative leadership:
"What works well is a Conservative leader who believes in core Conservative principles and articulates them well, but can also reach out to other parts of the community" he said. "You don't want someone who is too divisive, someone who doesn't understand how the other half of the world thinks about life."
Sir John believes that Conservatives are at their best when they solve Socialist problems with Conservative answers: "When we engage with tackling worklessness and poverty, when we engage with the big issues of how people can have more fulfilling lives. When we engage with the issues of how we can run public services better."
That is all very well, many might say, but the popularity of Reform proved that the Party must move back to the Right to catch up with the times and away from the Parliamentary Party's centrist tendencies of the past 14 years and more.
The problem with the Party began when John Major signed the Maastricht treaty and with the previous Labour landslide, when Citizen Blair began his reign of error.
The Conservative rump that remained viewed New Labour, not as a dangerous innovation to be fought to the knife, but as something to be emulated, both in leadership style, but also to some extent in policy.
After opposition to the 2nd Iraq War, the protests of the countryside alliance and the response to the 2008 crash (not downturn; crash), Labour were going to lose a general election anyway. The Conservative answer? Always behind the curve, David Cameron stepped up as a blue Blair leading from the centre and espousing all the Keynesian and globalist rhetoric of Blair mark 1 and Brown.
Then came the referendum, which was the strongest indication yet that the British public had had enough of being dictated to by supranational organisations and wanted their own government representing their fundamental belief in independence, liberty and what are easily identified as traditional Conservative values.
Then came May and Johnson (sort of) followed by the promise of Truss and the dismal aftermath under Sunak, none seeming to have addressed the issues of globalisation, quangocracy, constitutional and judicial vandalism, civil service obstruction and mediocracy that started under Blair and prevented the implementation of policy or the realisation of manifesto commitments.
This does not mean the new Conservative leader should lead a Right-wing shadow cabinet from the Right. Knee jerks serve neither Party nor country.
As Sir John suggests, the Conservative Party is not one wing of it, nor a few radical policies in isolation. A new leader must be capable of being prime minister and leading the entire country, not just Party supporters.
So, a leader from the Right leading from the centre with firm control over a broad representation of views within the shadow cabinet, which nevertheless also represents real Conservative purpose untainted by any external ideological influence, would be ideal.
Anyone presenting their case for leadership based on a single issue, such as immigration, however important, should be discounted. A series of practical policies based on traditional Conservative values should be presented to the electorate as soon as possible.
Policies that could be proposed right now
Time for the new Conservative Opposition to step up and act as a government in waiting.
The new Labour government is still acting like an opposition in its attacks on a government that no longer exists, seemingly in an attempt to excuse breaking its own manifesto commitments so quickly after the election.
So, it is high time for a new leader of the Conservative Party to get ready for a return to government right now. If an election were to be called in the Autumn when it should have been by Rishi, of what should Conservative policies consist? They can't wait to be invented later, but be a response to existing concerns.
First to be addressed is what needed to be addressed in Cameron's first manifesto but wasn't. So, the amendment or reversal of Blair and Brown's constitutional 'reforms'/vandalism and devolving of ministerial responsibility to quangos and supra-nationals. Devolution to mayoralties also. Plus a commitment to preserving the remaining hereditary peers from a needless purge.
Next, must be fulfilment of the 2019 manifesto and complete overhaul of the civil service. The realisation of a true Brexit and the opportunities it presents is vital. Not just a reversal of Starmer's policies of closer ties with the EU by stealth or openly, but a proper 'cutting of the painter' to re-establish full British sovereignty over our affairs. So, the repeal of all EU laws still applying to the UK, the ending of the NI Protocol and the restoration of full rights over our own waters.
Then, policies developed in areas such as:
A countryside triple lock should be introduced: is first, preservation of all productive land (arable, pasture, woodland, etc from building development or solar panelling; second, food security. Aim to be as agriculturally self sufficient as possible; security of tenure. Third, Complete exemption from inheritance or corporation tax on farmland and support for small farmers to keep farming.
Education: it would be easy to address it negatively because of the long March through the institutions, but best be entirely positive and ensure education is objective and begins with no presumptions. So, no subjective ideology promotion or indoctrination.
Objective unbiased education based on evidence rather than opinion. Words such as colonial, privilege, racism and diversity in essay and course titles unacceptable unless objective and strictly in context. Policy to that end.
A radical move would be to stream school children by aptitude rather than ability, matching teaching and learning styles to maximise ability and opportunity across schools. VAT on private schools abolished of course, so ensuring class sizes in state schools return to normal. Levelling up means that as in the opposite of dumbing down. Reintroduction of assisted places scheme to be considered plus the safety net of art schools that produced much creativity that was extra mural as well as within the courses. For example in music and drama.
Prison places: there has been talk about early release of prisoners, but little real imagination. A carrot and stick approach could be employed dependent on the three Rs. That is: Remorse, rehabilitation and reintegration (into society). This could be built around a plan including education and moral guidance programmes along with work for (not in) prisoners' local communities. The long term aim would be to deal with reoffending as much as throughput and so be an investment rather than short-term fix. The job of the Opposition is to have ideas and if they embarrass and catch out the current government, so much the better.
Immigration: we must recognise the matter has moved on and policies developed accordingly that remove impediments to dissuading criminal gangs from providing the boats. Should the UK leave the ECHR or negotiate opt outs? Everything must be explored. A review of ability to assimilate numbers should be implemented- culturally, infrastructure, essential services, food production and so on. This to support national border emergency measures. A recognition that population increase during a long period of declining birthrates has placed unsustainable pressures on social services, infrastructure and demands for new houses. Nothing off the table that is both in the national interest and humane.
The Party must not make immigration a central issue, but the importance to get it right must also not be overlooked. So, strict enforcement of acceptance based on need and qualification including an integration clause whereby nationalisation is provisional for a set period and dependent on an applicant's proven willingness to contribute to society as well as value British culture and common identity based on its history, Constitution and the Common Law. Meanwhile, such skills gaps that may exist in the UK should be met, as far as possible, by training people here rather than importing them.
Deeply important is that demographic concerns should not be confused with the ethnic origins or religion of any of the King's subjects.
Defence: upwards of 3% (preferably 5%), but a complete review of practices and civil service control, including procurement and investment versus need. No over reliance on technology or any other element.
Healthcare: a more holistic approach to personal responsibility (rather than top down planning) to encourage heathy lifestyles and healthy eating. Preventative medicine a priority but not enforced. Opportunity to plan one's own health journey with assistance provided. A thorough review of the role and cost of pharmaceuticals.
Net zero eradicated as a concept and replaced with environmentally friendly policies – i.e. environmentalism, not climate-ism. A thorough ground-up review of all the science (without prejudice) and all the implications: economic, social, cultural, societal and so on.
An Independent party advisory could be set up to prevent over dependence on civil servants or over regulation by supranationals. A return to blue-sky scientific advice and research free of ideological prejudice.
Generally, an integrated holistic approach to policies as practical solutions/alternatives to ideological driven Labour policy, clause by clause and right now. In short, be the government in waiting and speak for the majority who did not vote Labour.
Sir John says Conservatives are at their best when they engage, not just with their core base who believe in strong principles of freedom and independence, but also with the wider public who want a government who will help them in the right way.
The next leader of the Conservative Party must be the next leader of our country as soon as possible and lead in the interest of our country: King, land and all the people without exception.
