The Tories' Relentless Retraction of Cheers: Adapting to History and Leadership

The recent publication of memoirs by Conservative Party members, including Norman Lamont and John Major, has ignited a fresh round of debates about the party's past and its future under William Hague's leadership. The serialisation of John Major's manuscript in The Times has offered a candid portrayal of Margaret Thatcher, describing her as incoherent, inconsistent, and occasionally impossible. Meanwhile, Hague is keen to shift the focus away from historical controversies and towards a new agenda for Britain, as outlined in his policy document released today.

Key Takeaways:

• The Conservative Party's reliance on history as a unifying force has led to a return to past crises, including November 1990 and September 1992, which are perceived as destructive and inevitable.
• John Major's account of Margaret Thatcher's leadership has been seen as less damaging than expected, particularly in its critique of her Chancellor, Norman Lamont.
• William Hague will face challenges in controlling the media attention surrounding the publication of Major's memoirs, and the party's historical controversies will likely continue to dominate the headlines.
• The party has a history of adapting to change, with its aristocratic roots giving way to democratic values, its consideration of Irish Free State interests, and its dismantling of the British Empire.
• The real issue facing the party is a disagreement about the nature of leadership, with Hague needing to demonstrate this quality if he is to shift the focus away from history and towards a new agenda.
• The party's unity on European matters has improved in recent years, with many members now more aligned on this issue than they have been in a decade.

Statistics:

• 1990: The year in which Margaret Thatcher was ousted by her own parliamentary party.
• 1992: The year in which the Labour Party won a clear victory in the general election, leading to regret among Thatcherites about not having replaced her earlier.
• 1992-1993: The period during which William Hague served as Norman Lamont's parliamentary private secretary.
• 1950s: The decade in which the British Empire was dismantled.

Sources:

• "The Times" (serialisation of John Major's manuscript)
• Norman Lamont's memoirs (serialised in The Times)
• John Major's account of Margaret Thatcher's leadership in his manuscript (serialised in The Times)