Is the Conservatives' Fragmented Odyssey Ending in the UK?

The following opinion column is the first of two parts. 

In the turbulent waters of political uncertainty, it's easy for Americans to become consumed by domestic politics, losing sight of global political shifts.

Conservative forces in other nations, once potent, now appear directionless amidst chaotic political landscapes and tumultuous current events, which seem to be steering politics uncontrollably.

This is no less true in Great Britain, our "neighbor" to the east, whose history and contemporary role in global affairs are, arguably, crucial to international stability, or the lack thereof.

British politics is struggling, and the conservatives now find themselves knee-deep — if not waist and chest-deep — in the strong, battering waves of public opinion and policy mistakes.

Thirteen years in government might exhaust any party, but for the Tories, the looming downfall seems to be of their own making — a series of contradictions and failed promises has set them off course.

Is this phenomenon new?

And why is it repeatedly occurring in Great Britain?

Have conservatives in the United Kingdom, especially England, learned anything from their pratfalls?

Have they not learned the harsh lessons that history and the economy have offered?

Harry S. Truman once famously said, "If you want a friend in Washington, get a dog."

Keeping that quote in mind, can you imagine applying the British system stateside in D.C., where a government can be voted out on "no confidence," vanishing in an instant?

This reality is ever-present in Britain.

And those, young and old, who follow politics, or at least have the patience to do so, have been treated to a parade of conservative British prime ministers and governments, many of whom seemingly qualify for a place in a hypothetical British hall of shame.

Amidst this, the conservatives are wrestling with massive challenges of financial inconsistency, with taxation sure to be front and center in next year’s general election.

The current Parliament, dominated by a conservative majority, is heading towards significant tax increases, a move not seen in Britain since World War II.

Data from the Institute for Fiscal Studies pulls no punches.

By the 2024 election, the tax rate is poised to consume 37% of national income.

This is not merely an abstract percentage; it signifies a substantial increase, averaging nearly 3,500 pounds per household.

It’s a stark contrast to ponder: the same party that once championed the free-market ideologies of Margaret Thatcher is now championing historic tax hikes.

How’s that for a twist in the British conservative narrative?

Thatcher was a conservative superstar, because in the 1970s, like her contemporary, Ronald Reagan, she honed in on voter discontent in her home country: decaying, idle factories; high taxes, and other plague-filled socio-economic issues.

Britons rightfully felt impacted, concurrently believing that economic hope was ebbing fast for their mighty island nation.

Yet, successive governments seemed to have snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.

Simultaneously, immigration is another issue sure to haunt the conservatives as they seek a renewed mandate from the British people.

Their 2019 manifesto was unambiguous, promising reduced net migration and ensuring that the British people "are always in control."

But reality presents a starkly different picture.

Net migration into Britain has surged to an unprecedented 504,000 within the past year. To provide some perspective, this figure equals the entire population of Liverpool each year, with half a million more individuals entering the U.K. than exiting.

And it’s not just legal migration that is causing problems. Britain has witnessed an explosive increase in illegal arrivals, with numbers swelling from a mere 300 to nearly 40,000 in just five years.

But the chaos does not end at the borders. Each of these migrants must be housed and provided basic social services, draining the public purse by 7 million pounds daily.

The Tories' faltering grip on immigration is not just a breach of trust; it's a profound failure to uphold their clear commitments to the British electorate.

In the next column, we will delve a bit into a post-Brexit world. 

Jacob Lane is a Republican strategist and school choice activist. He has worked for GOP campaigns at the federal, state and local levels, as well as with various PACs and nonprofits. Read Jacob Lane's Reports — More Here.