The Conservative Party has just suffered one of the worst general election defeats in its history following on from one of its greatest general election successes in 2019. Clearly something went wrong. The reason for one was the same for the other, Brexit and its benefits such as the security of our borders. Now, more than ever, there is a need to come together to chart a path to victory.
If Brexit and its benefits had been achieved fully, one might argue, there would be no danger of citizen Starmer dismantling them now. Yet, here we are.
Reform poses as its own distinct party of the right, but has risen as the shadow of the Conservative Party or its conscience. To lay that ghost, to truly take back control, it is necessary for Conservatives to take back control of the Party and rediscover first and enduring principles.
The trouble is that since the great forgetting of Conservatism and Thatcherism during and following the Blair years, Conservatives may not just need to reread Burke, Pitt the Younger, the Tamworth manifesto, Berlin, Hayek, Thatcher and Scruton, but embarrassingly in many cases may need to become acquainted with them for the first time.
The Bruges Group is meeting in Birmingham on 30th September to discuss these matters and their implications. Speakers include Bill Cash CH, Andrew Rosinindell MP, Barry Legg and Professor Tim Congden CBE. In addition, the Bruges Group will be hosting Freedom Zone with contributions from Constitution Strategy (CS), Institute for Conservativism/Conservative Friends of CANZAK and European Research Group (ERG) including guest speakers such as Sir John Redwood.
When?
30th September - 9am to 5pm
Where?
Lyttelton Theatre
Birmingham & Midland Institute
9 Margaret Street
Birmingham
B3 3BS
Margaret Thatcher described the creation of the "fundamentally unreformable" EU as "perhaps the greatest folly of the modern era". One might go further and refer to it as one of the most dangerous.
Taking back control means something more than a political phrase or mission statement. Sovereignty means national self determination. It means liberty of thought, expression and action according to our own rules.
It does not mean xenophobia or a country cut off from others, but equal status and respect. True partnerships on specific issues cannot be real if any are subject to another or to any supranational power. Thus, taking back control must be more than making choices but making a viable and fair future for ourselves. Even more than this, it is our duty to act according to our own conscience, our own interests and our own destiny and not anyone else's and always in harmony with the entire world and not just part of it.
