The Conservative Party is edging closer to its imminent and undoubtedly overdue collapse. A party which, in its heyday, was globally renowned for its prowess across Europe and worldwide. It would be impossible in today’s climate to pinpoint when the rot started to set in. Without doubt, it has been a catalogue of errors: Brexit, COVID-19, our beloved NHS, schools, and so on. Their manifestos are smattered with lies, coupled with impossibilities and an arrogance so outdated that it is often deemed comical. Now, as we watch Rishi Sunak claw around for votes in embarrassing desperation, we can only ask: How did we get here, and is there any chance of a knight in shining armour coming to save the day for the Tory party?
The Conservative Party will be lucky to get 7% of the votes, if that. The issue comes to light due to a systemic continuum of failures in recent years. For instance, most recently, Rishi’s backtrack on the proposed Net Zero policies. These policies stated that by 2030, the production of petrol or diesel cars would be banned. This was pushed back five years. One of the most important issues which we face as a society is buried in a myriad of false promises and, moreover, it severs the umbilical cord of the younger voters that the Tories are in dire need of. They are perplexed that there is such little regard for not only their future but for the environment in which they will grow old. The party promised that climate issues would be dealt with; however, Mr Sunak has focused on a completely different audience than his original manifesto was aimed at. In totality, this has made the UK an unattractive opportunity for investors into green energy and shows that we, as a country, cannot stick to legal policies which is at best embarrassing and at worst, detrimental. Moreover, it means that the public is still exposed to dangerously fluctuating oil prices for longer. This contradiction between the original ideas of a strong future in terms of climate for Britain and now favouring the cost of living indicates the complete instability within the party and shows an indecisive and confused government which can be seen panicking while rectifying the issues made by others within their own party.
This issue in question directly refers to the cost of living crisis created by the former PM, Liz Truss. Liz Truss spent around £30 billion during her 44 days in her poorly thought out mini-budget. It might be more comfortable to believe that Liz Truss was subject to misogyny, a victim of a media storm on steroids, but this simply wasn’t the case. Truss was simply not fit for purpose. Ordinarily, not a problem, but she entered the party when it was on its knees and then proceeded to dismantle the last scraps of scaffolding holding the fragments together. She will be viewed in history as one of the Tory party’s largest nails in their coffin. This cataclysm caused widespread poverty across the country, with families struggling and continuing to struggle to afford basic necessities such as food or petrol. Therefore, unsurprisingly, there has been a major loss of trust between the public and the party. Trust is the backbone that runs through politics and is vital for a successful election; without it, success is impossible. This, coupled with the extreme wealth of Rishi Sunak, with his net worth being valued at £730 million, is extremely unpalatable to most. While families struggle to provide, the PM of the party which caused such a catastrophe will be talking to his colleagues about the topic; which Peloton instructor he enjoys most (an exercise bike which starts at around £2,000).
Scrapping HS2 was the last blow to the party. The missed opportunity for a long-term goal which the UK would so desperately benefit from was highlighted when Rishi decided to end the ‘saga’ of HS2. The proposed idea was that a high-speed, zero-carbon train would be implemented between the Midlands and London, creating a vital vein that would allow for the connection between the south and the north, which the UK has been missing for an eternity. It is the fundamental barrier that holds back the Conservative Party from success; it was more than a trainline… it was a link to their future. This decision was conducted in hopes of masking the inefficiency of the party and the lack of progression which was being made.
As the flames of the smouldering bonfire die down, and we search amongst the ashes for any hope of a future with the Conservative Party, it is incredible to think that this once formidable force is under threat from a Labour government that is certainly not in its prime. Keir Starmer and his chameleon colours are changing as fast as the Tories are drowning. This brings its own problems: an apathy to vote, a young generation so disjointed from their government, they feel all hope is lost. The Conservative Party has become an image of destruction and lies and thus cannot and will not win the next election; now we are left with the best of a bad bunch.