Birmingham’s significance to today’s Conservatives
Birmingham's significance to today's Conservatives
Birmingham: The Reminder of Disappointed Hopes for the Tories
Birmingham, with its vibrant atmosphere and well-renowned venues, was a natural choice for the Conservative Party to hold its conference. The city boasts numerous excellent restaurants and bars within walking distance, making it an ideal location for such an event. However, there is a bittersweet aspect to Birmingham for the Tories— it serves as a reminder of the disappointed hopes they experienced in the last election.
Nick Timothy, the former co-chief of staff for Theresa May, hails from Birmingham and believed that his party’s pursuit of a post-Brexit identity could be found within his hometown. He envisioned a new brand of conservatism called “Erdington conservatism,” named after the district in Birmingham where he grew up. Erdington conservatism aimed to appeal to regular working-class and middle-class people who held traditional values but also worried about their economic future. This alternative ideology broke away from the liberal conservatism of David Cameron’s “Notting Hill Conservatism,” which sought to attract urban liberals with economic liberalism, addressing concerns that traditional conservatives were “nasty.”
The 2017 general election was viewed as a pivotal moment to showcase the power of Erdington Conservatism. The party focused its efforts on winning over Brexit-supporting working-class voters in the Midlands and the North, even launching its manifesto in Stoke. Theresa May repeatedly emphasized her intention to use Brexit as a means to address the challenges faced by the just-about-managing. However, the election results were nothing short of a debacle. The party failed to secure enough seats in the Midlands and the North to compensate for the loss of seats in Remain areas.
The Conservative Party’s conference in Birmingham reignites one of the most animated debates surrounding the 2017 election failure. Was the Erdington strategy doomed by the constraints of austerity? It is undoubtedly difficult to address the concerns of the just-about-managing when working on a tight budget. Alternatively, was it Mrs. May’s lackluster performance that hindered the strategy? It’s challenging to reach out to hard-to-reach regions if you are shy and self-effacing. Another perspective suggests that the party’s failure to agree on a common strategy ultimately led to its downfall. While Mr. Timothy advocated for a transformative election, linking Brexit with a comprehensive policy to tackle the deeper issues facing Britain, Sir Lynton Crosby, the party’s election chief, preferred a continuity election. May represented strength and stability, while Corbyn represented a leap into the future. Lastly, one cannot dismiss the possibility that it is difficult to support the just-about-managing when public expenditure is tightly controlled and there are concerns about Brexit’s potential impact on the economy. However, there is no denying that Erdington Conservatism failed to resonate.
The Birmingham conference also revives the ongoing Erdington debate within the Tory Party. The Brexit wing of the party believes that their future lies in expanding support in working-class regions of the Midlands and the North, even if it means sacrificing middle-class support in the South. To achieve this, the party needs to double down on Tory values, such as patriotism and social conservatism, rather than apologizing to the liberal elites. Additionally, they argue for the necessity of a charismatic and populist figure like Boris Johnson, rather than an introverted and hesitant leader like Theresa May. On the contrary, the anti-Brexit faction of the party not only worries about the potential electoral damage of this strategy but also fears being associated with a British version of the Republican Party under Donald Trump’s leadership.
In conclusion, the Conservative Party’s choice to hold its conference in Birmingham carries a weight of disappointment and introspection. The party must grapple with the failure of Erdington Conservatism, while simultaneously engaging in a fiery debate about the future direction of their party. Only through thoughtful reflection and strategic decision-making can the Tories hope to regain lost ground and rebuild their support among the British electorate.
