The liberal movement faces extinction

In recent decades, the idea of liberalism has wavered in both its importance and definition. To call someone a liberal today is to associate them with the ideas of social liberalism, with “political correctness”, and, in the current British landscape, Remainarism. Economic liberalism, the theory under which a liberal party ruled Britain more than a century ago, has shrunk into an archaic, bland term for capitalism, its ideals barely touched upon by the main proponents of liberalism in Parliament.

The idea of a centre-ground has been eroded into a liberalism that treats freedom as an annoying relative, one best ignored.

Boris Johnson’s election means that the the Remain movement is finished beyond any hope of repair. Trying to halt Johnson’s chances of a trade deal this year or even campaigning to re-join would be pointless. Earlier last year, there was a sense that a second referendum was possible, but the astounding hubris of the Liberal Democrats in calling for Brexit to be cancelled altogether put an end to any hopes of reversal.

Jo Swinson’s leadership of the Liberal Democrats has been the least successful since Jeremy Thorpe’s, although instead of the courtroom she looks set for the House of Lords, despite her party’s insistence on its democratic failings. (Disclosure: I voted for Swinson as leader and would do so again, if only because she is the best of an intellectually-bereft group.)

Now the party faces another leadership election, which holds the stupefying chance of a contest between Layla Moran and Ed Davey, the latter having already been resoundingly rejected by members. Swinson was heralded as the most popular voice for the movement when elected. Given her dismal poll ratings, it would seem that others could only fare worse.

Once again, this election also signalled the failure of centrism to cut through to voters, despite the extremism of Corbyn and Johnson. The south-west of England, once a liberal heartland, is now a Tory stronghold. Why? Because an effete liberal party seems to offer no new ideas beyond Remainerism, and seems transfixed on its image as the most ardently progressive, metropolitan, ideology.

The electoral map shows a clear divide between rural areas and towns, now overwhelmingly Tory, and densely populated city areas, which tilt towards Labour. The Lib Dems, squeezed in the middle, were unable to break through in many of these seats, in places such as Cheltenham, Wells and St Ives. Their only new victories in England came in St Albans, and Richmond Park, some of the most avidly Remain-supporting and affluent areas of the country, where fears about Labour’s economic plans mixed with support for Remain. This blend is not prevalent enough in the country to gain the party any more seats.

The Change UK group that managed to enact as little change as possible last year was another sign of the failure of centrists to capture the public imagination. Their ideas were confused; promising to stop Brexit while also lamenting the arrogance of “left-wing intellectuals” and the fall of traditional Labour values. Soft-leftism has not gained power in Britain since James Callaghan, and the terminal incompetence of its figureheads offers little hope of a revival.

Tom Watson is a perfect example, someone who tried to fight a lost cause inside a Labour Party that he didn’t want to leave, despite disagreeing with the leadership on all the main issues of the day.

Recent political history shows that moderate forces only thrive in times of stability. In the middle of the Blair years, many knew that voting Lib Dem was not going to let William Hague or Michael Howard into power, and made the party competitors for the official opposition. Boris Johnson’s government looks to be in power for another five years at the very least, with no effective Labour opposition in view. If the Lib Dems can elect a palatable leader, then they stand a chance of increasing their votes over time. If they continue their internal arrogance over Brexit, they will face oblivion across the country.

In The Road to Wigan Pier, George Orwell urged his fellow socialists to create an “effective” party that offers “an objective which fairly ordinary people will recognise as desirable.” The liberal movement in Britain would do well to learn that lesson, and offer policies that appeal across Britain. Either the Liberals confront the new political reality, or face extinction. It’s as simple as that.