After the inevitable fall of Theresa May, a dedicated, yet notably ineffective prime minister, it was obvious to all that the next leader of the Conservative Party needed to be different. As a Conservative Party member, I saw the disillusionment within the Party, circles being drawn, around and around in what seemed like a perpetual cycle of feeble, and weak, leadership.
Image: Moritz Hager, World Economic Forum
Things had to change. We needed a Prime Minister who believed in Brexit, who had a vision, who wanted to unite this country with strong, and effective leadership. But most of all, we were bored, bored of the same brand of Eurocentric One Nation Conservatism, based around the legacy of Blair's New Labour. Cameron's ideology had crumbled after 23 June 2016 as we voted against the nucleus of his vision, our membership of the European Union. This is why I believe, partly, as to why May was such an ineffective prime minister; she was attempting to keep a dead ideology alive in dichotomous circumstances.
But what does it mean for the United Kingdom to inherit Boris Johnson as its new prime minister?
We know that a general election is effectively inevitable at this point, as the woeful election campaign fought by May in 2017 has seen the Conservatives almost lose their majority altogether in the House; this, posed with problematic back benchers on Cameronite or other remain-based wings of the Party, will almost definitely act as a huge obstacle for Boris. Indeed, it's been stated for days now, even before his election, that the easiest part of his premiership will be winning the leadership race. Although Boris has ruled out a general election before Brexit, I am regrettably unconvinced if that will be something he can see through. Regardless, it seems pretty safe to say that there will be a general election probably in the winter if not before Brexit.
Image: Andrew Parsons, i-Images Picture Agency
Yet in spite of this, the Johnson Ministry seems to be overflowing with some of the most talented politicians in the recent history of the United Kingdom, backed by the ERG (European Research Group - an influential group of Eurosceptic Conservative MPs) at a time in which the European Union has just had a major change in its own composition. Indeed, as we wave goodbye to Mr. Juncker, we are met with a new President of the European Commission, although she regrettably takes up post in November, after Britain is due to leave the European Union. Although a passionate Eurofederalist previously expressing support for the concept of an EU army and previously (though she recently U-turned on the statement), Ursula von der Leyen favoured a "United States of Europe", and thus it would seem prudent for her to recognise that should the UK find itself having left the EU without a deal, it's blindingly obvious to anyone with a working knowledge of market economies that it would be an immediate priority upon her taking office to formulate a deal as soon as is feasibly possible. After all, Germany (one of the EU's largest economic powers) is balancing on the edge of recession due to their sharply declining automotive industry, following in the footsteps of Italy's economy, whilst France finds itself in economic discomfort and unyielding political turmoil (a good reminder of the problems brought around by a Single European Currency). The EU cannot afford to lose a core contributor to the European economy and a net importer of European goods to a restrictive tariff barrier, as the EU remains as an economic power in consistent decline, contrasting with most other markets outside of the EU, which are subject to the same tariffs as a result of the restrictions brought about by the Customs Union.
Whether Britain leaves with or without a deal remains to be seen, although we should seriously consider that a no deal Brexit seems as if it will be the likely outcome, as Juncker does not wish to re-open negotiations at this point. But it should be noted that the EU would wish to avoid a no deal Brexit as well for the same economic reasons previously mentioned above. However, I do not personally think a no deal Brexit will be as damaging to the UK as some speculate, particularly given that we are reassured that the civil service and the government have been fiercely preparing for such an outcome. One thing is certain however, we will leave on 31 October.
Image: Fresh on the Net, Flickr
Depending on the result of the general election we are almost certainly going to fight, I believe with the renewed faith in Conservative politics and Johnson's Vox Populi approach, with a genuine, modern Conservatism government, comprising of raw talent such as Mogg, Patel, Truss and Raab. It's entirely possible that the Johnson Ministry can win a sizeable majority (as we see the Brexit Party has dropped down astoundingly in the polls as faith in a capable Conservative Brexit has been restored) and, after delivering on Brexit, can go about some radical reform in the United Kingdom, which I have no doubt is already in the pipelines, with Boris having announced an extra 20,000 police officers on the streets before he even walked through the door of number 10.
I believe, the Conservative Party is, under Johnson, once again, truly the party for the people. The many, not the few.
After all, as was made clear in 1995, the SAS has a famous motto.
