But, conservatism in 21st century Britain is . . .

an entirely different thing than it is the States. Or should I say Blair's New Conservative Party would be one I would vote for in a heartbeat if the alternative were, say, the GOP. Or perhaps more to the point, a British Conservative Party led by, say, Melanie Phillips. And John Howard's Conservative Party was too close to the latter for mine - and I suspect most Britons - comforts.

As poster Third Avenue points out at what is quickly becoming a must read of mine - The Sharpener - the Conservative Party is cut so far adrift not only because it has to compete with a new version of itself, but because it has an unreconstructed core that simply can't accept that 80% of the country think a post-imperial, secular Britain is pretty damn cool place to be these days - which is something the Labour Party understands and embraces, hence its ability to be a "New Conservative Party for a New Britain." This is ultimately the Conservative Party's biggest problem - that a good chunk of its followers seem to prefer the cultural climate of, say, Tulsa, Oklahoma, to that of London's - and as a result, they are constantly dumping on Britain, calling it a hellhole, a place in terminal decline, etc.. Thing is, the vast majority of the population thinks otherwise. And thank God for that - it gives me somewhere I'd like to move back to when I finish my Ph.D..

Comments

[gracchus]

Good look getting an academic job in the UK....

[gracchus]

good LUCK getting an academic job in the UK....

sheesh, early morning typos.

[Ben P]

Not necessarily going to try to get an academic job. Not necessarily going to move to the UK either. Just throwing the idea out there.

Ben P

[gracchus]

good that your flexible. friend of mine did a PHD at queen's in belfast, ended up doing something with computers in the city of london. pays well, but not at all related to what he studied....