Slowly but surely Tory fortunes are on the rise
SOMETHING is happening at Westminster. After months of disarray the Tories have suddenly begun to regain their confidence. As the political atmosphere changes, the Government is starting to function properly once more, instead of remaining trapped in crisis management.
Only a fortnight ago, such a shift would have looked impossible. Still reeling from its dismal election campaign, the loss of its Commons majority and its dire autumn conference, the Conservative party seemed to be in a state of paralysis. Ministers limped from one debacle to another, buffeted by sex scandals, resignations and infighting. On the backbenches, there was even febrile talk of a leadership challenge.
Yet today the picture looks very different. A new sense of purpose has replaced the selfindulgent, destructive introspection. Huge problems remain for the Government, but at least the road ahead is now more clear. A prime factor in this revival has been the extraordinary resilience of Theresa May, who has not buckled in the face of the storm over recent months.
She has kept going when it would have been so easy to abandon office. In the immediate aftermath of the General Election, she certainly went through some soul-searching but she has now emerged stronger from her ordeal.
Survival has brought a new toughness to her political character, as has happened with some previous Tory leaders. In 1931, Stanley Baldwin was almost brought down by his internal foes, but he triumphantly fought back and was never threatened again until he decided to retire, of his own volition, six years later.
IN a similar fashion, Margaret Thatcher faced a rebellion by Tory “wets” in 1981, but she saw them off and dominated the political landscape for the rest of the decade.
As a sign of her own greater self-assurance, Theresa May’s performances in the Commons have improved dramatically in recent weeks. She exudes more authority and has sharper lines.
There is also a feeling that the tide may have turned for her on Brexit. After all its recent hostile rhetoric, Brussels is now sounding more positive about trade talks. Such progress would be reward for her patience, flexibility and attention to detail – qualities so often ignored by her critics. She has, moreover, retained a remarkable degree of unity in Tory ranks over exiting the EU, despite the fierce emotions that the issue provokes. Contrary to all the predictions of revolt and divisions, the Government has so far won every significant vote in the Commons on Brexit.
Theresa May’s recovery has been further helped by Philip Hammond’s solid, workmanlike Budget last week. It was a well-received financial package that not only strengthened their partnership at the top of the Cabinet, confounding all the speculation about mutual distrust, but also gave the Government a coherent programme in office, particularly on providing more funds for the NHS and a greater supply of affordable housing.
Hammond’s Budget was all the more effective as it illuminated the ineptitude of Labour under Jeremy Corbyn and his sidekick John McDonnell. Constantly repeating their mantra about “Tory cuts”, this grisly pair have nothing to offer the economy but unlimited state control and borrowing.
Since the election, Corbyn’s party has largely avoided scrutiny. But now, as the Government revives, the spotlight is beginning to shine in Labour’s direction, exposing all its dogma, nastiness, bigotry and extremism.
Yet the British public is wise to Labour’s economic follies. That is why the Tories currently enjoy a 16-point lead over Labour on the management of the economy, while only 28 per think Hammond is a “bad” Chancellor.
Most voters see through all the miserabilist, Left-wing propaganda, such as the grotesque scare story – regularly peddled by Corbyn – that NHS nurses are now forced to use foodbanks.
In fact, the economy is doing well under the Tories with growth at 0.4 per cent in the last quarter and consumer spending up 0.6 per cent. Unemployment is at a record low, industrial orders at their highest since 1988, and the property market remains strong.
CONTRARY to all the Labour hysteria about a starved civic infrastructure, public satisfaction with the NHS is at its highest level for 20 years, while workers on the state payroll continue to earn 11 per cent more than those in the private sector.
Furthermore, inequality is falling: the gap between the earnings of the richest and the poorest is at its lowest level since 1986. It turns out that the Tories are much better at social justice than Labour. The British public is more contented than ever. The Office of National Statistics revealed this month that its national “happiness index”, launched in 2011, has never been at a higher level.
The entire narrative about the Conservatives’ meltdown has been overblown. Much of this exaggeration comes from the progressive media, desperate to bring down the Government and wreck Brexit. But the British public is unpersuaded. Even before the Budget, one opinion poll put the Tories four points ahead of Labour.
Last Thursday night, two council by-elections in marginal constituencies, one in Stroud, Gloucestershire, the other in Dover, Kent, saw easy Tory wins with big swings away from Labour.
Nothing is ever certain in politics. But at least the Conservatives, tested by recent adversity, appear to have recovered their fighting spirit and cohesion.
‘Theresa May has emerged stronger’