Most Tory MPs enjoy leadership elections. There may be an element of what the trick-cyclists call ‘displacement activity’. Equally, it is tempting to employ the cliché about rearranging the furniture on the Titanic.
The Brane-Cantenac 2000 was everything that a claret lover could wish for
Until 1990, the process was brief. It took only four days to elect John Major, whose team used an underground ‘bunker’ in Alan Duncan’s house as their HQ. By 1997, when the party had been grievously wounded and the election procedure extended, there were lots of gatherings which required more spacious premises – including Jonathan Aitken’s garden.
Now, even more stricken, the Tories will need a number of bunkers and will face the same problem that their predecessors had to cope with in 1997. The public are not interested. That will change, but not in any short order. At present, if most voters knew Clem Attlee’s advice to Harold Laski, they would quote it to the Tories: ‘A period of silence from you would now be welcome.’
How should Tories respond? Stoicism will be required. Tory principles are neither extinct nor irrelevant. It is the medium that has been discredited, not the message.
But there is one Tory solace which will never be unfashionable. When in doubt, have a drink. The other evening, a small group of us foregathered. Our host had been a minister and greatly enjoyed himself. He confessed to withdrawal symptoms, and found it galling to read the papers. Thoughts would come instantly to mind: ‘We should be doing this; saying that.’ No doubt indeed we should, but that will have to await the whirligig of time.
Comments
Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months
Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.
UNLOCK ACCESS Just $5 for 3 monthsAlready a subscriber? Log in