Camp Conservative is becoming increasingly confused on ideology. It might sounds a bit strong, but just look at Michael Gove's fawning over Blair on Tuesday and the 'Bright Blue' organisation mentioned in Gerald Warner's blog today.
According to their website, Bright Blue is a Conservative group which is "passionately committed to promoting a fairer, more socially just Britain in the next Parliament and beyond". Bright Blue's first ever speaker at its launch event, "Does Inequality Matter?", was none other than Labour poster girl and Guardian columnist Polly Toynbee. Fellow speaker, shadow pensions secretary Theresa May noted the peculiar choice of having a staunch Labour supporter like Toynbee address the group at its opening event.
The bewilderment is even greater among those of us who do not really understand where modern Conservative thinking is heading. From a grassroots group like Bright Blue, it seems well-meaning but naive. From top Tories, however, it comes across as populist and opportunistic when Labour initiatives under Blair are praised and coveted.
Don’t get me wrong. I am in favour of pushing the social justice agenda. Yet, in the process of appealing to Middle Britain, the Conservatives are arguably neglecting the promotion of values associated with their core voters — not heard a lot about the hunting ban recently, have we?