Must The Conservative Party Die?

Kevan James

October 16, 2024

Many people on social media express the view that the Conservatives have had their day and should be consigned to oblivion. I do not believe this to be necessary or desirable.

It would be more accurate - and also more desirable - to hold those within the party at the time for their behaviour, and their misdeeds. It is undoubtedly true that Tory Members of Parliament did indeed betray their voters and the country with their actions over the past, what, years? Years indeed, because Tory infighting has been going on for a long time.

However, to suggest the party should be killed off is somewhat over-the-top. My view is that it would be far better to remove those responsible and hold them to account in some way for what they have done, or for that matter failed to do.

An analogy: there is a huge debate going on over the question of reparations for slavery. Those against the idea (including me) ask why we, in our lifetimes, should be held responsible for something that happened centuries ago. In the same way therefore, why should future possible members of a political party, including MPs not yet in the House of Commons, be held responsible for the actions of those there now?

Another example - one of, if not the, biggest mistakes made by the current government is the axing of the Winter Fuel Payment for most pensioners. Nobody voted for that, it wasn't in Labour's manifesto and it is indeed a cruel and vindictive assault on some of our most vulnerable people. It is an act born from a spiteful fantasy that all pensioners are rich.

But is anybody suggesting that the Labour party itself should be exterminated because of it?

Not as far as I'm aware.

Yet when pensioners die this winter because of the cold, Chancellor Rachel Reeves will be personally and directly responsible for their deaths. As will Prime Minister Starmer as an accessory. Murder? No, as this will not be a deliberate act designed to kill. Manslaughter? More likely as death will be a consequence of a separate act and I'm quite sure Reeves has no intent to kill anybody. But there will still be dead people.

So should Labour be removed from the fabric of our lives? No, I don't think so. There may well be people who will become members of the party and rise to be MPs who will look back in disgust at the act of cutting support for older people who need it. Especially while throwing away billions to other countries first.

No, it is not the termination of either Tory or Labour parties that is needed.

It is the removal, by any lawful, legal means needed, of those directly responsible - current Members of Parliament. They are the ones who propose and vote for (or against) measures that any government wishes to bring about.

For far too long, MPs have behaved in a way that is abhorrent to the majority of those they are supposed to represent - ordinary citizens up and down the United Kingdom. Their superior, 'we-can-do-no-wrong-we-know-best' attitudes are a slur and an insult to the British people.

One of the most needed reforms to politics in this country is that MPs must be held directly accountable for what they do and the results of their actions. Or for that matter, lack of actions.

© Kevan James, 2024

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