The Recovery, Part I

Why bother rebuilding the Tories

Dredging over the current wreckage of the Conservative Party implicitly raises another question – why bother? It is a fair one. The thumping a fortnight ago was so severe and so deserved that it is reasonable to question why to seek its rehabilitation and resurrection. Yet, in terms of principles and practicalities, the Conservative Party remains the best place to rebuild the right. It remains a viable vehicle for political recovery. It is also the best chance to carry forward the values and voice of a positive form of conservatism against both the left and the insurgent populists.

The defeat the Conservatives suffered was a bad one. There is no need to recount this. Nor do we need to regurgitate the long-term demographic challenges they face. At this stage, it is more important to consider what can be salvaged. One of the few positives about the recent defeat is that it could genuinely have been worse. The Conservative Party remains the second biggest party in parliament; it is the opposition. It may not be in good health, but it is still more potent than the alternatives.