Ex-Chancellor Warns: Tory Infighting Could Lead to Party's Demise
Former Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi compares Conservative Party conflicts to mafia and Game of Thrones, warning of potential collapse. He urges unity to avoid irrelevance and recover from recent electoral defeat.
Nadhim Zahawi, former Chancellor of the Exchequer, has issued a stark warning about the internal conflicts plaguing the Conservative Party. In a recent interview with Times Radio, Zahawi drew parallels between the party's dynamics and the ruthless world of organized crime and fantasy drama.
The ex-chancellor, who served in the final days of Boris Johnson's premiership, described a toxic environment within the party, stating, "We decided to form a circular firing squad while in government." This self-destructive behavior, he argues, has led to a loss of public trust and electoral support.
Zahawi's comments come in the wake of a significant electoral setback for the Conservatives. Just over a year ago, on July 4, 2023, the party suffered a historic defeat, which Zahawi attributes to internal divisions and factional infighting.
The Brexit referendum, held over eight years ago, continues to cast a long shadow over the party. Zahawi, who supported leaving the EU, noted that the Conservatives "never reconciled" after the 2016 vote. This lack of unity has led to the formation of increasingly extreme factions within the party.
"This could be a moment in history where you could literally pinpoint the timeline where the Conservative Party fell apart."
Referencing the party's internal conflicts, Zahawi mentioned the "five families," a term borrowed from Mafia terminology to describe influential Tory factions. These groups include the European Research Group (ERG), known for its Eurosceptic stance, and the Common Sense Group, which takes a hardline approach on cultural issues.
The former chancellor's comparison to the hit TV series Game of Thrones underscores the cutthroat nature of party politics. "We got to a stage where it felt more like Game of Thrones than being a responsible governing party," Zahawi remarked, highlighting the escalating hostility between factions.
As the oldest political party in the UK, founded in 1834, the Conservatives have weathered numerous storms. However, Zahawi believes the current crisis could be existential. He urged his former colleagues to unite, warning that failure to do so could render the party "an irrelevance."
The Conservative Party has held power in the UK since 2010, either in coalition or with a majority. Their 2019 general election victory, under Boris Johnson's leadership, secured their largest majority since 1987. However, the party's internal divisions have intensified since then, particularly over issues related to Brexit and cultural values.
Zahawi's call for unity comes at a critical juncture for the Conservatives. As the UK continues to grapple with the aftermath of Brexit and ongoing societal debates, the party's ability to present a united front may determine its future relevance in British politics.
