The Tories need to regenerate like Doctor Who to keep up with the times
The 37th series of Doctor Who begins on Sunday and it is probably the most eagerly anticipated series since its return after a 16-year hiatus. For the first time ever there will be a female Doctor and the excitement is heightened as fans look forward to seeing Jodie Whitaker’s interpretation of the iconic character. Therein lies the secret of Doctor Who’s success.
The series’ first aired in 1963 until 1989 and its comeback in 2005 refreshed its status as a major icon of British popular culture. Why does it have such an enduring appeal? It’s because thematically its timeless and every few series the show is reinvigorated thanks to the clever concept of regeneration.
Every time one actor leaves and another comes in, the doctor “regenerates” and their personal take on the main character gives it a new lease of life, renewing the viewer’s interest. It’s a winning formula, and one that the Conservative Party needs to adopt.
‘Opportunity’ is the word plastered around the ICC Birmingham, a suitably empty message for a government devoid of ideas. Opportunity for what and for whom? What does it mean? There is nothing at all backing up this one-word slogan; no philosophy, no coherent set of policies or consistent messaging. The Conservatives look every bit like a Party on their way towards a deserved spell in opposition.
Theresa May blew her chance to advance a domestic agenda by losing her majority before getting bogged down in the trench warfare of Brexit. She leads the worst administration in living memory and the conference has further exposed that this is a completely exhausted government.
Last week in Liverpool we saw an energised Labour Party bursting with bold ideas and interventionist policies. Sweeping nationalisation, mass unionisation, a bureaucratic planned economy, wealth expropriation. A huge overhaul in every policy area. They decried the status quo and heralded a populist revolution.
Jeremy Corbyn has expressed a politically and economically dangerous message that sounds plausible and rational. He is in tune with the grievances and genuine concerns of our time. That’s why it just won’t do for the Tories to warn about a return to the 1970’s and try to spread fear of the socialist bogeyman. This message didn’t hit home in the way they expected and its totally irrelevant to young people.
Instead they must focus on championing the benefits of markets and liberalism for creating jobs and opportunities for all and adopt a proactive and transformative policy programme. Now is not the time for May’s drab negativity and reheated Milibandism. Nor is it time for Hammond’s ‘evolution not revolution’ tinkering. The country is crying out for change. To beat Corbynism the Conservatives need to set out an optimistic vision of the future.
But first they must regenerate. They need a new leader, fresh faces in the Cabinet and new blood across the government. After the mediocrity of the last two years the public needs to perceive the Conservatives as a fresh prospect when the next election comes.
I’m not coy about my belief that the new leader needs to be a Liberal with a plan to broaden the Party’s appeal. Theresa May decisively came down on the side of the ‘citizens of somewhere’ and has successfully brought back Ukippers into the fold. Mobilising a base of old white people helped in the last election, it may help them squeeze into government next time, but beyond that?
Her parochialism, suspicion of business and obsession with immigration is re-toxifying the Party and narrowing its appeal. Their poor performance amongst the under 40’s lost them a majority. This is now the Party of the ‘hostile environment’, of harking back, of Brexit obsession with a tin ear for business concerns. 85% of under 25-year-olds don’t believe the Conservatives represent people like them. This cannot continue. The Conservatives need to recover from the EU induced nervous breakdown, and broaden their horizons.
A new Prime Minister, a new Chancellor, a refreshed Cabinet and new Ministers along with a total overhaul of the message and new set of bold, forward thinking policies to change the country for the better. With polls show Labour moving between 36-40% and much of the public still sceptical about Corbyn and his movement, it’s clear that a regenerated Conservative Party can beat Labour and defeat Corbynism.
The optimal time to do this is after the conclusion of Article 50 negotiations. We have a brief window before the commencement of the next stage of negotiations which will decide the nature of our new partnership with the EU. The new PM should resist the inevitable calls for fresh elections to give the government time to set out its stall, communicate its vision and distance itself from May’s botched reign and Hammond’s drab bank manager approach.
Jeremy Corbyn is unfit for the role of Prime Minister, it’s a matter of national urgency that he be kept out of Downing Street and his nasty Marxist ideas man McDonnell is kept away from the Treasury. Not to mention their putrid communist advisors such as Milne and Murray, and the sorry little band of Corbynite MPs.
Combine their disastrous set of policies with with the empowerment of the poisonous Far Left movement and British politics will turn more toxic than ever. It’s our answer to Trumpism. It cannot be allowed to happen. Britain needs the Conservative Party to get its act together and win the next election. It cannot do this in its current guise, so it must regenerate.