Swift is back and attended PopCon's 'Beginning the rebuild' conference. Read what he has to say.
As Swift’s readers will remember, the hymn continues: ‘amid the encircling gloom’. Who could blame Conservatives for feeling a little down?
Yet, kindly light was provided by Popular Conservatism's recent election post-mortem (watch here) where distinguished speakers variously tackled the enemy within (clue, his trousers are too short), the enemy without (socialism, obvs), and the potential ally and/or enemy next door (think man with ciggie and pint).
The event was held at the Emmanuel Centre, which Swift understands to have been some sort of dissenting place of worship (the Dean himself would have been horrified). This conferred an air of sanctity on proceedings, but prayer alone will not be sufficient to revive our fortunes. Hard work is needed and needed now, was the message.
Some good news first. Post-mortem is applicable to the election, but not to the hallowed Conservative Party itself. OK, the vital signs are not currently that strong, and the medics look worried, but the party has been pronounced dead any number of times in the past, only to rise, pick up its bed and walk (this religious tone is catching).
Not all the speakers (there were lots, so let us list them minus titles and move on - Mark Littlewood/David Starkey/Daniel Hannan/David Frost/Suella Braverman/Jacob Rees-Mogg/David Campbell-Bannerman) were in exactly the same place on every issue, but there was a strong consensus - a narrative indeed, as we say these days - which Swift can capture for you.
Tacking to the centre? - no, rotten idea, because the centre doesn't really exist, and the result is that Reform caught us bathing and took away our clothes.
The Conservative Party needs to be a party of ideas. Much mention of the Blessed Margaret and her John the Baptist (I'll stop this soon) Sir Keith Joseph returning to traditional Tory values and developing them into compelling policies in the mid-seventies. This is less about playing purely to Reform voters, and more about appealing to everyone on the right (and to an extent, the centre) by being true to ourselves and our values.
The honeymoon period for an ideas-free, touchy-feely Labour Party could be short indeed.
So…step one, deal with the enemy within, more than one speaker said menacingly (or words to that effect). This appeared to include anyone who works or has recently worked in CCHQ, denunciations of which met with warm applause tinged with genuine anger.
Once that Tory episode of The Sopranos has been completed, do some serious thinking because, let's face it, we've got the time and the tranquillity bestowed on us by the great British voters... We can reflect undisturbed.
Then rally to the blue flag and take the fight to Labour. And conceivably win the next election. After that, the great task of dismantling the over-mighty state and restoring proper Parliamentary government.
Yep, Swift knows, looks a stretch, but surely better than the recent election campaign - badly-timed, badly-run, badly-communicated, and concluded in messaging that admitted we were toast, but begged voters not to be too unkind. Swift believes that, in particular, was an embarrassment to a great political institution. The voters treated it the same way.
As befits a religious institution, the Emmanuel Centre has improving texts on its walls and ceiling. One caught Swift’s eye: "I am come that they might have life".
Our next leader, whoever that is, should perhaps take that as a motto for his or her time in office, because an injection of vital fluids into the Conservative Party is required.
At least the new leader will know that Popular Conservatism is ready to help - and to keep them on the path of virtue should they be tempted to stray.