Unity, Rishi Sunak’s top priority
During his inaugural address in London, Sunak emphasised that his primary focus is fostering unity within the Conservative Party and the nation. He articulated, “We are confronting a significant economic challenge… We now require stability and unity, and I am committed to making the unification of our party and country my utmost priority.” Following the shock and division caused by Liz Truss’s economic plan, which rattled financial markets and created discord within the Conservative Party, the role of conservatives in shaping British society has taken on considerable significance in recent years.
Rishi Sunak’s controversial support programs from companies
Rishi Sunak, a staunch advocate of conservative principles like lower taxes and restrained government spending, temporarily deviated from this stance during the Covid-19 pandemic. Recognising the unsustainability of his traditional policy approach, he unveiled extensive bailout packages to safeguard businesses and jobs. Additionally, he introduced a novel short-term work benefit unprecedented in the UK’s history.
The composition of Sunak’s forthcoming team carries significant weight, as they may be the final cohort of conservatives determined to steer clear of recent election campaigns, given the dire electoral outcomes experienced in recent polls.
Expectations of polarised British society from Rishi Sunak
Sunak becoming the UK’s first prime minister with an immigrant background is more of a side issue. Her social position and the reality of his life have nothing in common with most Indian-origin UK residents. But now, not only in the deeply divided Conservative Party, mediation and integration await him, but also in British society. The role of conservatives in shaping British culture depends on their unfavourable performance.
The British middle class does not trust the promises of politicians.
The influence of conservatives in shaping British society has been significant, playing a role in diminishing the trust that the middle class has in political figures. The political landscape has raised concerns and scepticism among the British middle class, leaving them uneasy. In this climate, the Labour opposition party is prepared to contest the perceived or real wealth of multi-millionaire Sunak strongly. For an extended duration, the Sunak-led party has primarily focused on protecting the interests of the affluent and privileged.
75% of British people distrust politicians
The UK think tank survey results seven years after the Brexit referendum show that British citizens do not trust the country’s leaders. 75% of Britons participating in this survey have lost trust in politicians. The participants in this survey believe that politicians act more in their interest than in the public interest.
In this survey, 48% of respondents indicated that if another referendum akin to the Brexit vote were conducted today, they would opt to rejoin the EU. According to the poll’s findings, only 32% of participants favour persisting with the separation from the EU. This signals a waning of support for the concept of Brexit. It’s worth highlighting that this shift in sentiment has gained notable momentum in the wake of the economic challenges triggered by the Covid-19 pandemic and the conflict in Ukraine.
Populist behaviours of the conservative party after Brexit
Brexit does not only have economic consequences. Leaving the EU has also changed the country politically. Tim Bale, professor of politics at Queen Mary University of London, has recently published the book “The Conservative Party After Brexit”. He talks about ideology and the attack on democratic institutions. He concludes about the Conservative Party: “Brexit virus has transformed the Tories from a mainstream party of the centre-right into an unstable amalgam of radical rightwing populists, hyper-libertarians and market fundamentalist.” According to him, the Conservative Party was always populist, but after Brexit they completely internalised populism. Bale does not believe that the Conservatives will find their way back to the same conservative severe style after the departure of Boris Johnson.
Huge income gap under the Conservatives
Survey findings reveal that individuals with disabilities in the UK experience a higher incidence of poverty than the general population. A recent report examining the widening income disparity in the UK during a burgeoning cost of living crisis highlights that people with disabilities are grappling with more acute challenges this winter. Research conducted by the Resolution Foundation underscores that individuals with disabilities are particularly vulnerable to escalating essential expenses.
Wide income gaps for people with disabilities
According to the Resolution Foundation, income gaps for people with disabilities are primarily due to declining employment rates. Almost half (48%) of adults with a disability in the UK say they need to cut back on energy use this winter. At the same time, one-third of people without disabilities declared that they do such a thing. Meanwhile, up to two-fifths of people with disabilities (41%) said they could not keep their homes warm, compared to 23% of the non-disabled population.
More poverty for disabled people in the UK
People with disabilities in the UK are also far more likely to be poor than the rest of the population, with a third of adults in low-income households having a disability, compared to less than a tenth in the wealthiest families. Charlie McCurdy, an economist at the Resolution Foundation, said: “While fast-rising prices for essentials were affecting people across the UK, people with disabilities were more exposed to the most severe effects.” He said this meant people with disabilities, who comprise a third of the poorest households in the UK, would need more support during the cost-of-living crisis.
Increasing internal divisions among conservatives
A secretary of the UK government has resigned from his position in an incident that shows the existence of a split between the ruling party and the government of this country. Zac Goldsmith, the Minister for the International Environment and Climate and UK Animal Welfare and Forests, has announced his resignation and said that the reason for this resignation is that British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is “not interested” in environmental issues. The UK is expected to hold an election next year, and polls show a weakening of the Conservative Party’s votes. Right now, the Conservative Party is divided between those loyal to Rishi Sunak and those like Goldsmith who see the marginalisation of Boris Johnson as unfair.
The opposite result of the efforts of Brexit supporters
r Rishi Sunak, who announced the reunification of the Conservative Party as one of his priorities, is now on a path against this goal. It should be noted that about seven years after the Brexit referendum, while the supporters of this project are trying to present a positive picture of the situation, the results of the surveys indicate the growing distrust of citizens towards politics and the deterioration of the British economic situation. It should be noted that the fights over Brexit are still ongoing. While Brexiteers try to paint a positive picture of leaving the EU, many analysts present data very different from the picture painted by Brexiteers.
