Tory moderates fail to fight in civil war | Rafael Behr

If there was a way to move election day up to this Thursday, how many Conservative candidates would take the hit now rather than wait another two weeks to face their fears? Plan A has flopped, leaving no other options. The Prime Minister’s hopes of narrowing the polls during the campaign have also fallen apart. Now, ministers are begging voters not to give Keir Starmer a substantial majority. The lack of excitement in the prime ministerial race has led to a focus on the size and character of Britain’s next opposition.

The traditional Tory party is split, with David Cameron’s faction backing remain and Theresa May’s Brexit deal, while the opposing side consists of a mix of nationalists, social conservatives, libertarians, and Brexit hardliners looking towards Nigel Farage’s Reform party. The division is not as clear-cut as it seems, with Rishi Sunak embodying the moderates’ choice, and Liz Truss representing the Boris Johnson continuity faction.

Johnson’s supposed moderation is contested, with his alignment more left-leaning on issues like state intervention and green initiatives. Sunak, on the other hand, embraces austerity and tax cuts. The rift within the Conservative Party runs deep, exacerbated by the exodus of voters towards Labour and Reform due to concerns about living costs and public services.