During his closing remarks at this week’s Conservative Party conference, leadership aspirant James Cleverly MP encouraged the audience to embrace a spirit that was more “enthusiastic, relatable, positive, and optimistic—let’s just be a bit more normal!”
In a performance that resonated deeply, he earned the longest standing ovation of the day, distinguishing himself from three other leadership contenders on the same stage.
Many attendees drew parallels between Cleverly’s address and one delivered by former UK Prime Minister David Cameron. Back in 2005, Cameron also entered the race for Tory leadership as an underdog, contending against the formidable David Davis, much like Cleverly today.
Cleverly’s message, like Cameron’s then, emphasized a shift towards the center of the political spectrum. This sentiment isn’t unique to him; it’s echoed by several prominent figures in the party.
James Cleverly speaking at the Conservative Party Conference
Indeed, just before the conference commenced, ex-Prime Minister Theresa May made her own appeal to party members, urging them to reposition towards the center. She highlighted in a Times article that recent elections had seen the Conservative Party lose 60 seats to the Liberal Democrats. She posited that rather than fixate on the formidable Reform Party led by Nigel Farage, the Tories should focus on reclaiming lost ground.
A significant number of previous Conservative supporters opted to back the Labour Party in the last election, which indicates that targeting these “floating voters” could be more beneficial than chasing the Reform vote.
Building a wide coalition is another pivotal argument, as voiced by Steve Baker, the former Minister of State for Northern Ireland. Rising to prominence during the Brexit discussions as the chair of the euro-sceptic European Research Group, Baker has thrown his support behind Tom Tugendhat, believing he possesses the capability to steer the party effectively.
“What we’ve witnessed recently is that a confrontational approach leads to setbacks,” Baker remarked, expressing regret over the divisiveness experienced during the Brexit years. Many see Tugendhat as a moderate one-nation Tory who notably voted to remain during the 2016 referendum.
Steve Baker
However, Baker insists that Tugendhat is far from a mere “compromise candidate.” He believes Tugendhat can adeptly unite the more liberal members of the party with the free-market right. Baker also approves of Tugendhat’s stance on the European Convention on Human Rights, advocating for a reform-first approach that would consider leaving if reforms aren’t possible.
Should Tugendhat not win, Baker expressed his willingness to support another candidate, emphasizing the need for party unity and a revitalized, positive outlook.
No doubt, while past leaders like May and Cameron contend that future elections should focus on centrist grounds, the new contenders grasp that to clinch the leadership, winning over the party’s base is crucial. The Conservative membership typically skews right, and their attempts to capture this demographic were evident during the conference.
Meanwhile, Robert Jenrick, once a devoted supporter of David Cameron and a Remain advocate, raised eyebrows by advocating for the abandonment of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). He landed himself in hot water after sharing a video implying that the ECHR was forcing British soldiers to prioritize killing terrorists over arresting them due to human rights concerns. Tugendhat, a former army officer, dismissed this narrative and called for the video’s removal.
Kemi Badenoch, another strong contender, opted to reignite culture war discussions and targeted “wokeism” head-on. She ignited controversy right at the conference’s start, declaring in the Sunday Telegraph that not every culture holds equal validity.
There’s a speculation among observers that some candidates may initially cater to far-right sentiments, only to pivot their strategies post-leadership race to attract the floating voters who have recently switched allegiance to Labour or the Liberal Democrats.
When this notion was presented to Baker, he acknowledged that it certainly could be a possibility.
Meanwhile, the specter of Boris Johnson looms large. Next week, the competition will narrow from four contenders to two.
Simultaneously, Johnson’s upcoming book, “Unleashed,” set to debut on Thursday, will address significant issues such as whether the question of the UK’s adherence to the European Court of Human Rights should be subjected to a referendum. It’s worth noting that the last referendum—on Brexit—drove a considerable wedge in the nation.
This reminder sheds light on the challenges that await the eventual Conservative leader, with figures like Johnson lingering in the background. Many believe that the next leader may not necessarily be the one best suited to propel the party back to power.
If the new leader aims to foster a sense of “normalcy,” they might end up satisfying no one. Conversely, courting the Reform Party voter could also backfire, as it opens the door for Farage, who is never one to shy away from controversy.
Ultimately, the path forward remains uncertain, with both routes fraught with potential pitfalls and risks.
Edited by: Ali Musa
Axadle international–Monitoring
