https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/sep/30/theresa-may-survival-sajid-javid-tories-knives
"A house divided against itself cannot stand. I believe this government cannot endure", words which are as true today as they were when first spoken on June 15th 1858. Today, in less than 6 hours time, the Conservative Party Conference opens in Manchester amid open dissent and discord between factions within the party on Brexit, Universal Credits, Tuition Fees, Welfare and many other "policies" mooted or even abandoned since the disastrous general election of June this year. Perhaps, above all else, there is the mounting speculation regarding the position of Theresa May and her post as leader. There is no doubt that over the next 4 days, the party will attempt to paper over the cracks and to do as they have always done presenting to the country a staged managed display of unity and bonhomie, but Conservative Party Conference 2017 is very different. There will be the usual standing ovations though perhaps less convincing than in past years, speakers will "pause for applause" during their speeches to the audience and all the MP's and representatives dragged before the interviewers from Sky and BBC television will say, with perhaps a hollow ring to their words, how wonderful conference is and how the party is firmly united behind the leadership.
However, not withstanding all the contrived froth, today's newspapers and government critics, are already circling like vultures, ready to plunge the daggers and then line up behind their preferred options to take up the reins.
Observer: Theresa May in battle for survival as Tories sharpen knives.
Independent: Theresa May faces a growing Tory revolt over energy price cap.
Mail: PM gambles on tuition fee U-turn to head off Tory coup
Times: Boris Johnson believes Theresa May will be driven from Downing Street within a year.
Express: May will be FORCED out for driving party into ground, Brexiteer says
Evening Standard: Ministers descend on Manchester as pressure mounts on Theresa May
Mirror: Tory MP's pile pressure on Theresa May days before her party conference over cruel benefit changes and soaring energy bills
There has never, in my memory, been a more divided or belligerent Conservative party than there is today. Desperately trying to play catch up with the Labour party and its appeal to all sectors of our society, the Conservatives lurch from one policy proposal, which they subsequently abandon, sometimes within days of the announcement, to another equally unacceptable idea to one or more elements within the party. Having until recently dismissed the Labour party and its leadership as some kind of unelectable political nonentity, the conservatives now realise with growing dismay and incredulity that it is they who have been sidelined and the Labour party are now the political mainstream.
The Conservatives are victims of their own arrogance . They have always believed that they are the natural party of government in the United Kingdom and consequently could inflict hardships and exploitation on any section of society albeit tempered with the occasional splattering of patronising "goodies" just to keep the populace "on side".
Their philosophy exploded on June 8th of this year when Theresa May and the conservatives, allowed themselves to believe that they would destroy the Labour party and achieve a majority in the commons of up to 80 or even 120 seats.
The result of the election and the Labour Party conference of last week, confirmed how wrong they were.
It could well be that even by this time next week, the Conservatives will have called a leadership election for their party. For the sake of this country they should be calling a General election.
Theresa May in battle for survival as Tories sharpen knives
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"A house divided against itself cannot stand. I believe this government cannot endure", words which are as true today as they were when first spoken on June 15th 1858. Today, in less than 6 hours time, the Conservative Party Conference opens in Manchester amid open dissent and discord between factions within the party on Brexit, Universal Credits, Tuition Fees, Welfare and many other "policies" mooted or even abandoned since the disastrous general election of June this year. Perhaps, above all else, there is the mounting speculation regarding the position of Theresa May and her post as leader. There is no doubt that over the next 4 days, the party will attempt to paper over the cracks and to do as they have always done presenting to the country a staged managed display of unity and bonhomie, but Conservative Party Conference 2017 is very different. There will be the usual standing ovations though perhaps less convincing than in past years, speakers will "pause for applause" during their speeches to the audience and all the MP's and representatives dragged before the interviewers from Sky and BBC television will say, with perhaps a hollow ring to their words, how wonderful conference is and how the party is firmly united behind the leadership.
However, not withstanding all the contrived froth, today's newspapers and government critics, are already circling like vultures, ready to plunge the daggers and then line up behind their preferred options to take up the reins.
Observer: Theresa May in battle for survival as Tories sharpen knives.
Independent: Theresa May faces a growing Tory revolt over energy price cap.
Mail: PM gambles on tuition fee U-turn to head off Tory coup
Times: Boris Johnson believes Theresa May will be driven from Downing Street within a year.
Express: May will be FORCED out for driving party into ground, Brexiteer says
Evening Standard: Ministers descend on Manchester as pressure mounts on Theresa May
Mirror: Tory MP's pile pressure on Theresa May days before her party conference over cruel benefit changes and soaring energy bills
There has never, in my memory, been a more divided or belligerent Conservative party than there is today. Desperately trying to play catch up with the Labour party and its appeal to all sectors of our society, the Conservatives lurch from one policy proposal, which they subsequently abandon, sometimes within days of the announcement, to another equally unacceptable idea to one or more elements within the party. Having until recently dismissed the Labour party and its leadership as some kind of unelectable political nonentity, the conservatives now realise with growing dismay and incredulity that it is they who have been sidelined and the Labour party are now the political mainstream.
The Conservatives are victims of their own arrogance . They have always believed that they are the natural party of government in the United Kingdom and consequently could inflict hardships and exploitation on any section of society albeit tempered with the occasional splattering of patronising "goodies" just to keep the populace "on side".
Their philosophy exploded on June 8th of this year when Theresa May and the conservatives, allowed themselves to believe that they would destroy the Labour party and achieve a majority in the commons of up to 80 or even 120 seats.
The result of the election and the Labour Party conference of last week, confirmed how wrong they were.
It could well be that even by this time next week, the Conservatives will have called a leadership election for their party. For the sake of this country they should be calling a General election.
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