There isn't a housing crisis there's an immigration crisis. Labour ramped up immigration to bring in new Labour party voters to replace the unreliable white working class. Immigration doesn't even pay for itself, with many studies pointing out the obvious that immigrants use more in benefits and services than they pay in taxes. If you doubt that statement, because you've fell for Labour propaganda, then think what is the average salary in the UK, we are running a deficit and what are the demographics of immigrants, their skills, salaries and family make up. It becomes fairly obvious from even a tiny bit of thinking about those metrics that immigration is a terrible idea. Any Conservative who supports large scale immigration is a fool.
Absolutely spot on. The leadership contest is a contest in stupidity - headline-grabbing proposals that completely misunderstand the policy area in question, and would probably make things worse, but which appeal to the Tory party members fed on the woke hysteria and Brexit mania of the right wing press. Insulated, as you say, from reality by a broadcast media more interested in the panto than the policy.
But I do think there are thinkers in the Conservative Party's parliamentary ranks. I work with some. I don't agree with them on a lot of things, but see they are at least thinking seriously about big issues. They just have no traction and platform with the wider party, electorate and media.
I think your analysis is good and could be applied to any of the current parties. We are definitely suffering the effects of four decades of presentational politics and an unhealthy symbiotic relationship between Westminster and the media. Unfortunately the majority of us have disengaged from politics, recognising there are very few levers that the public have, least of all an electoral system that is manifestly unfit for purpose. The Coping With Life party is now the biggest in the land, but we sit well outside the self-delusional Establishment bubble and have no system to work within to effect change.
As a former Immigration Officer, I have watched in dismay and frustration as the BorderForce-now known as the Open Borders Farce-expedites the growing influx of illegal dinghy occupants , while the headlong rush to Net Zero has compounded the collateral damage of two years' worth of lockdown lunacy and now seems certain to push thousands into destitution.
Slogans and shallow propaganda bruited about by slippery opportunists, completely divorced from the concerns of those of us who live in what used to be the real world, pass for joined up thinking by our hopeless politicians.
Population pressure,driven by mass migration, is steadfastly ignored by those who seem to think that Net Zero, rewilding, renewables, green wash and de facto open borders, plus rationing of food, water, gas and electricity and immiseration of growing numbers of people, will provide the 'sustainable' future beloved of our movers and shakers.
All this is irrational, ill thought out and inconsistent, just like the 2 year suspension of hitherto basic social, economic and public health norms, foisted on us in the name of 'following the science'.
Excellent on Tory failings and serial incompetence but missing the main point, which is that many of our current woes demand a "left" approach. Active (not necessarily big) government and international cooperation, especially on the environment, when the Conservatives are obsessed with small/no government and the UK acting (or trying or pretending to act) in splendid isolation.
Brilliant article. I have been saying for a long time the defining characteristic of Boris's government is weakness. It has not stood for anything substantial. It has not stood up to the EU and although criticised for dictatorial lockdowns and destruction of freedoms, in truth it was too late in its early response to coronavirus and then in July 2021 it simply gave up, capitulating to the anti-lockdowners without any analysis of its own and no plan for rising deaths and 'living with coronavirus'. Whether you agree with the lockdowns or not the decision was not careful or measured but capitulation. On every front, weakness: illegal and legal immigration, Northern Ireland, the NHS, defence, energy security, global warming alarmism, fishing and marine resources, BLM, LGBTQI+++++ and wokery. Even on Ukraine it was not really the difficult but necessary choice that it made. Sending weapons and welcoming Ukrainian refugees are the right but easy choices; military engagement too hard and costly - the UK has run down its own forces to the point where they have little to contribute and would lose against Russia. Two Russian submarines patrolling in the south western approaches and another pair between Iceland and the UK would be such a deterrent to shipping and its insurers that the UK would quickly run out of everything, not just energy.
The Boris Government had no vision, no serious intent other than staying in power. it seemed to be more surprised than anyone to find itself in government. It seemd to be completely unprepared as if the general election had just been a game and winning was the only objective.
It has been a great disappointment. There is still no sign that either it or the Tory Party (pace John Redwood, Peter Lilley, Frost, Badenoch and a handful of others) understand the reasons people voted for Brexit, not least the remoteness of Government - both Brussels itself and a Westminster establishment that looks to the EU for direction rather than to British voters and much of it still does. That establishment still hasn't learned to understand British voters and how to put into action plans that meet their needs. No wonder Nicola Sturgeon can play on a desire for independence from Westminster. Westminster still waiting nostalgically for guidance and direction from its European friends and partners?
Excellent analysis, though more could be said about the corrupt practices of this government and the refusal to prosecute fraud. However the party does have excellent taste in overpriced wallpaper and overhyped Etonian liars.
What an odd thing: not caring about politics, but desperate to WIN at all costs. What does that tell you? It's another way of framing "identity politics". What is the identity? Well other than the obvious right wing tropes, the biggest most pressing identity variable underneath it all, is M-O-N-E-Y: collecting the "tolls" as you govern as a (legalized corrupt) leader, and preserving the wealth of the moneyed class. All other is verboten. Why compromise. Why argue and haggle and all that hard work? Just rest on identity. This is what Islamic "democracies" are blamed of in comparison to plural societies, lo and behold....it is the Anglo Sphere as well! Ironic.
Labour and the Liberal Democrats are no more imaginative, dynamic or clear-thinking though are they? I would say the left in the UK is even more stagnant than the right. Perhaps we need a new party (The House Party?).
This is a great read, and has deservedly been picked up by The Spectator - congratulations!
Though I don't disagree with much at all in the article, my feelings are a bit different to yours. Much of the drift you describe, the failures of implementation and the lack of guiding principle seem to me to derive from Boris Johnson, and his time as Prime Minister is coming to an end. I see this as inevitably leading to a huge upgrade in the quality of our government. Boris is unique among modern PMs in thinking solely of his own interest rather than the national interest. Whichever candidate wins the leadership will return us to the constitutional norm whereby Britain is governed by someone trying to do the right thing for the country. Both would take the job more seriously, work harder, appoint a stronger Cabinet and improve implementation.
I think they're two strong candidates. Sunak is extremely intelligent, likeable and electable. He did well as Chancellor during the pandemic and, if his post-pandemic record is more patchy, I put much of that down to the constraints of working with a spendthrift PM. Truss is also bright, hard working and has a track record of delivery across several departments. I think voters will prefer her to Starmer.
I share your frustration that the leadership campaign is not fully acknowledging the severity of the problems we face. But it's difficult to do that when you're asking for votes - sound too gloomy and you'll probably lose. Both candidates speak about the energy crisis at every hustings, and if they don't have a complete solution to the problem it may be because we're approaching the limits of what government can do. No-one is coming up with any better ideas, as far as I can see.
I do agree they've been disappointing on housing, but that doesn't preclude the possibility that they appoint a really good housing Minister who makes some progress on the issue.
Overall, I'd say times are unusually hard for two reasons: the pandemic and Putin's war. Neither development is the fault of the government, which has actually done okay in its response to both so far. We're about to put behind us the narcissistic government of Boris Johnson and get more serious. It may be that the problems we face are too difficult to be solved in two years under a new leader, but I think they'll give it a good shot and it remains important to beat Labour to keep the union together and stave off electoral reform.
There isn't a housing crisis there's an immigration crisis. Labour ramped up immigration to bring in new Labour party voters to replace the unreliable white working class. Immigration doesn't even pay for itself, with many studies pointing out the obvious that immigrants use more in benefits and services than they pay in taxes. If you doubt that statement, because you've fell for Labour propaganda, then think what is the average salary in the UK, we are running a deficit and what are the demographics of immigrants, their skills, salaries and family make up. It becomes fairly obvious from even a tiny bit of thinking about those metrics that immigration is a terrible idea. Any Conservative who supports large scale immigration is a fool.
Absolutely spot on. The leadership contest is a contest in stupidity - headline-grabbing proposals that completely misunderstand the policy area in question, and would probably make things worse, but which appeal to the Tory party members fed on the woke hysteria and Brexit mania of the right wing press. Insulated, as you say, from reality by a broadcast media more interested in the panto than the policy.
But I do think there are thinkers in the Conservative Party's parliamentary ranks. I work with some. I don't agree with them on a lot of things, but see they are at least thinking seriously about big issues. They just have no traction and platform with the wider party, electorate and media.
I think your analysis is good and could be applied to any of the current parties. We are definitely suffering the effects of four decades of presentational politics and an unhealthy symbiotic relationship between Westminster and the media. Unfortunately the majority of us have disengaged from politics, recognising there are very few levers that the public have, least of all an electoral system that is manifestly unfit for purpose. The Coping With Life party is now the biggest in the land, but we sit well outside the self-delusional Establishment bubble and have no system to work within to effect change.
As a former Immigration Officer, I have watched in dismay and frustration as the BorderForce-now known as the Open Borders Farce-expedites the growing influx of illegal dinghy occupants , while the headlong rush to Net Zero has compounded the collateral damage of two years' worth of lockdown lunacy and now seems certain to push thousands into destitution.
Slogans and shallow propaganda bruited about by slippery opportunists, completely divorced from the concerns of those of us who live in what used to be the real world, pass for joined up thinking by our hopeless politicians.
Population pressure,driven by mass migration, is steadfastly ignored by those who seem to think that Net Zero, rewilding, renewables, green wash and de facto open borders, plus rationing of food, water, gas and electricity and immiseration of growing numbers of people, will provide the 'sustainable' future beloved of our movers and shakers.
All this is irrational, ill thought out and inconsistent, just like the 2 year suspension of hitherto basic social, economic and public health norms, foisted on us in the name of 'following the science'.
Excellent on Tory failings and serial incompetence but missing the main point, which is that many of our current woes demand a "left" approach. Active (not necessarily big) government and international cooperation, especially on the environment, when the Conservatives are obsessed with small/no government and the UK acting (or trying or pretending to act) in splendid isolation.
Brilliant article. I have been saying for a long time the defining characteristic of Boris's government is weakness. It has not stood for anything substantial. It has not stood up to the EU and although criticised for dictatorial lockdowns and destruction of freedoms, in truth it was too late in its early response to coronavirus and then in July 2021 it simply gave up, capitulating to the anti-lockdowners without any analysis of its own and no plan for rising deaths and 'living with coronavirus'. Whether you agree with the lockdowns or not the decision was not careful or measured but capitulation. On every front, weakness: illegal and legal immigration, Northern Ireland, the NHS, defence, energy security, global warming alarmism, fishing and marine resources, BLM, LGBTQI+++++ and wokery. Even on Ukraine it was not really the difficult but necessary choice that it made. Sending weapons and welcoming Ukrainian refugees are the right but easy choices; military engagement too hard and costly - the UK has run down its own forces to the point where they have little to contribute and would lose against Russia. Two Russian submarines patrolling in the south western approaches and another pair between Iceland and the UK would be such a deterrent to shipping and its insurers that the UK would quickly run out of everything, not just energy.
The Boris Government had no vision, no serious intent other than staying in power. it seemed to be more surprised than anyone to find itself in government. It seemd to be completely unprepared as if the general election had just been a game and winning was the only objective.
It has been a great disappointment. There is still no sign that either it or the Tory Party (pace John Redwood, Peter Lilley, Frost, Badenoch and a handful of others) understand the reasons people voted for Brexit, not least the remoteness of Government - both Brussels itself and a Westminster establishment that looks to the EU for direction rather than to British voters and much of it still does. That establishment still hasn't learned to understand British voters and how to put into action plans that meet their needs. No wonder Nicola Sturgeon can play on a desire for independence from Westminster. Westminster still waiting nostalgically for guidance and direction from its European friends and partners?
Excellent analysis, though more could be said about the corrupt practices of this government and the refusal to prosecute fraud. However the party does have excellent taste in overpriced wallpaper and overhyped Etonian liars.
What an odd thing: not caring about politics, but desperate to WIN at all costs. What does that tell you? It's another way of framing "identity politics". What is the identity? Well other than the obvious right wing tropes, the biggest most pressing identity variable underneath it all, is M-O-N-E-Y: collecting the "tolls" as you govern as a (legalized corrupt) leader, and preserving the wealth of the moneyed class. All other is verboten. Why compromise. Why argue and haggle and all that hard work? Just rest on identity. This is what Islamic "democracies" are blamed of in comparison to plural societies, lo and behold....it is the Anglo Sphere as well! Ironic.
Labour and the Liberal Democrats are no more imaginative, dynamic or clear-thinking though are they? I would say the left in the UK is even more stagnant than the right. Perhaps we need a new party (The House Party?).
Reminds me of Hanania's assertions that conservatives are tribal, low-IQ TV watchers.
https://open.substack.com/pub/richardhanania/p/liberals-read-conservatives-watch
This is a great read, and has deservedly been picked up by The Spectator - congratulations!
Though I don't disagree with much at all in the article, my feelings are a bit different to yours. Much of the drift you describe, the failures of implementation and the lack of guiding principle seem to me to derive from Boris Johnson, and his time as Prime Minister is coming to an end. I see this as inevitably leading to a huge upgrade in the quality of our government. Boris is unique among modern PMs in thinking solely of his own interest rather than the national interest. Whichever candidate wins the leadership will return us to the constitutional norm whereby Britain is governed by someone trying to do the right thing for the country. Both would take the job more seriously, work harder, appoint a stronger Cabinet and improve implementation.
I think they're two strong candidates. Sunak is extremely intelligent, likeable and electable. He did well as Chancellor during the pandemic and, if his post-pandemic record is more patchy, I put much of that down to the constraints of working with a spendthrift PM. Truss is also bright, hard working and has a track record of delivery across several departments. I think voters will prefer her to Starmer.
I share your frustration that the leadership campaign is not fully acknowledging the severity of the problems we face. But it's difficult to do that when you're asking for votes - sound too gloomy and you'll probably lose. Both candidates speak about the energy crisis at every hustings, and if they don't have a complete solution to the problem it may be because we're approaching the limits of what government can do. No-one is coming up with any better ideas, as far as I can see.
I do agree they've been disappointing on housing, but that doesn't preclude the possibility that they appoint a really good housing Minister who makes some progress on the issue.
Overall, I'd say times are unusually hard for two reasons: the pandemic and Putin's war. Neither development is the fault of the government, which has actually done okay in its response to both so far. We're about to put behind us the narcissistic government of Boris Johnson and get more serious. It may be that the problems we face are too difficult to be solved in two years under a new leader, but I think they'll give it a good shot and it remains important to beat Labour to keep the union together and stave off electoral reform.