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The news of an end to austerity must have reached the Centre for Policy Studies (CPS). On June 10, the CPS launched Britain After Brexit, a new collection of essays edited by George Freeman, mostly written by fellow MPs elected in 2010. The CPS rented out the largest room at 1 George Street – a great hall adorned with gilded paint and bearded Victorian portraits – and served guests not only delicious sandwiches but also champagne and strawberry scones with cream. Several leadership candidates, such as Sajid Javid and Dominic Raab, gave speeches. Penny Mordaunt clucked like a hen (I wondered if her decision not to stand in this leadership election was proof that she was the wisest member of the class of 2010). Mr Freeman trumpeted that his book had given the party “a new generation of neoconservatism” and the BroadCast Unitedlectual tools it needed to fight a resurgent far left.
His enthusiasm is infectious, but he asks too much. His book is more like a vicar’s egg than a Viagra pill capable of reinvigorating a flagging Conservative philosophy, let alone a hand grenade aimed at the headquarters of Corbynism. Mr Freeman rightly argues in his introduction that the Conservative Party is facing a crisis on the scale of 1848, 1901 and 1945. The political era created by Thatcherism is crumbling, obviously because of the financial order but also because Thatcherism offers no obvious solutions to pressing problems such as overcrowded commuter trains. Contributors also explore issues that the Conservatives have shied away from, such as the importance of devolution.
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