THE CHRISTIAN HAWK
A CHRISTIAN EYE ON POLITICS.....
David Cameron Takes British Conservatism to the Left
(A new occasional series which UK Apologetics will archive when the number of editions grows sufficiently).
April 12th, 2006.
As already reported in our political comment series, on December 6th 2005, the British Conservative and Unionist Party adopted David Cameron as their new leader. Many long-time Tory supporters had simply refused to believe that this could happen, mainly because Mr Cameron has portrayed himself as a clear liberal with a quite open agenda to “modernize” the conservatives. Recently, in a well-publicised speech, Mr Cameron has again emphasized that British Tories (conservatives) must modernize themselves and be prepared to turn their backs on their traditions if they want to form the next British government.
Some believe that Mr Cameron's apparent attempt to appear more “electable” in a Tony Blair style (there are just too many similarities between them) will ultimately backfire. Are the British public really looking for a Tony Blair-style firmly middle-ground left-wing conservative clone to take them into the future?
A record number of former conservative supporters have not even voted for the last few years because of their widespread dissatisfaction with modern centre-ground liberal politics. Will the Cameron call to make modern British conservatism even more centre-ground and as Blairite as possible really bring back the thousands who either no longer vote at all - or have actually been jumping ship to the UKIPs (U.K. Independence Party) or the BNPs (British National Party)?
It does not seem so. On the contrary, one can see voter apathy and general dissatisfaction with modern party politics increasing as Mr Cameron continues to sound amazingly similar to both the Liberal Democrats and to the more right-wing of the Labour Party ('New Labour').
As I wrote in the December 6th, 2005 column in this series, some are already speculating that a more centerist or even a more leftish conservative party would be little short of a catastrophe which would drive many thousands of right-wing conservatives into the more distinctly right-wing and volatile areas of British politics. The difference now is there is already evidence that this has been happening. As one life-long conservative party worker said to me back in December,
“Most of us believe that Britain is in a mess and that liberal values have gone way too far. We do not accept Mr Cameron's belief that modern Britain is a good and healthy place and is something to be welcomed but, rather, that it is our party which is the problem. I am already disturbed at what Cameron has said even within minutes of his adoption as our leader.....he is really far too young and inexperienced but there was a widespread feeling that he should be given a chance. If he attempts to take us to the left there will be a big revolt – of that there is no doubt. He may not last too long.....”
David Cameron looks set for an interesting time!
The Christian Hawk -6
UK Apologetics