The Party's Over: The Rise and Fall of the Conservatives from Thatcher to Sunak

The conservative and unionist party is facing its demise due to its leadership's sacrifice of the long-standing commitment to the Union, an intellectual vacuum, and the decline of its membership, which is increasingly old and unable to share the benefits.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 368 pages
Publication date: 29 August 2023
Publisher: Verso Books

The question of whether or not the most successful political party in Europe will collapse is no longer a matter of speculation, but a reality. Despite winning the December 2019 General Election, the parliamentary conservative and unionist party is facing its own demise. It no longer speaks for, or to, the British people. Its leadership has sacrificed the long-standing commitment to the Union in order to "Get Brexit Done," and beyond this, it is an intellectual vacuum, propped up by half-baked doctrine and magical thinking.

Burton-Cartledge's account of the party's history begins with the Thatcher era and demonstrates how swiftly the party struggled to find a popular vision for the United Kingdom. He charts the flaws and failings of each successive leader, all the way to Sunak. He also examines the state of the membership, which has become increasingly old. Their values have not been adopted by the younger voters, who are unable to share the benefits. Furthermore, the coalition between the countryside and the City interests is under pressure, and the latter is split by Brexit.

The collapse of the conservative and unionist party is a significant event in British politics, and it has far-reaching consequences for the country. It is a reminder that political parties must be able to adapt to changing circumstances and to remain relevant to the needs of their constituents. It is also a warning that the pursuit of ideological purity can lead to the abandonment of core principles and the loss of support.

As the party faces its own demise, it is important to consider what the future holds for British politics. Will the collapse of the conservative and unionist party lead to the formation of a new political party, or will it result in a period of political instability and uncertainty? Will the younger voters, who have been alienated by the party's policies, find a new home in a different political party, or will they remain disillusioned with the political system?

Only time will tell what the future holds for the conservative and unionist party, and for British politics as a whole. However, it is clear that the party's collapse is a significant moment in the country's political history, and it will have a lasting impact on the country's future.

Weight: 290g
Dimension: 198 x 128 x 24 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781839760372