Modernisation! Modernisation! Modernisation! This has been the Conservative Party byline since David Cameron won the party's leadership election in 2005. Back in 2007, the Independent's Sophie Goodchild gushed that Cameron had undergone a transformation from "traditional Tory to modernising liberal". Even ConservativeHome, the blogosphere's HQ for all things Tory, ran an article noting the "steady modernisation of the Conservative Party". Cameron pledged that his government would be "the greenest government ever" and has persistently boasted of toning down the right-wing tendencies of the Conservatives. A YouGov poll found that the public perception of the party is that they are moderate right-wingers; gaining a score of +46 on a political spectrum scale (-100 very left-wing/+100 very right-wing).
However, this weeks EU referendum vote in parliament highlighted the existing wide, and widening, gap between backbench MPs and Tory cabinet members. David Cameron urged his MPs to vote against a referendum, imposing a three-line whip on Conservative backbenchers. But, despite the overwhelming victory of the No camp (483 to 111), it appears that his recommendation was ignored. Big name rebels included John Redwood, David Davis and upcoming golden-boy Zac Goldsmith. Rather laughably, they argue that they opposed their leader because of a desire to wholeheartedly represent their constituents. If only this desire were consistently expressed. As Stewart Wood, one of Ed Miliband's top advisors, points out on Twitter, "Will they apply same principle and argue to ditch government's NHS reform?"
But let us say for arguments sake that they were genuinely concerned about fairly representing their constituents. Following this logic you would think that issues such as unemployment, crime levels and the NHS would be placed at the top of the agenda. Recent polling by Ipsos-MORI found that 68% of the population see the economy as their biggest concern. Strangely, in spite of politicians' insistence that the general public care deeply about the EU and our relationship with it, only half a per cent of voters see Europe as the most important issue facing the UK; just 3% list it under 'other important issues'. This, if nothing else, helps emphasise just how out of touch the Conservative Party is when it comes to grasping public opinion.
This latest blunder by the Tories has left them well and truly exposed. Far from modernising, they have proven to be just as ruthless, egotistical and arrogant as ever. The issue of Europe has troubled Conservatives for as far back as I can recall. Michael Howard, John Major and William Hague all utilised the topic to gain support and momentum. It is clearly seen within Tory ranks as the ultimate populist position; alongside other tried and tested stances such as anti-immigration, anti-welfare system and anti-health and safety. But, before we all laud Cameron for his ability to stand up to his backbenchers, we should first understand the role he has played in fuelling their prejudices.
Early on in his reign, Cameron pulled the Conservative's out of its alliance with the centre-right European People's Party - a party endorsed by both Sarkozy and Merkel - to form a new alliance with far-right European groups. These included the openly homophobic Law and Justice Party of Poland, the xenophobic Danish People's Party and the abhorrent Northern League of Italy. If this was not an early indication of an anti-EU posture then Christ knows what is. Add to this the cabinet's incessant demands for repatriation of laws from Europe and Cameron's unwillingness to categorically commit to the EU and it is hardly surprising that Tory backbenchers feel appalled by their leader's sudden change of heart. Furthermore, Cameron and his cronies have failed to facilitate a mature and factual debate on the subject.
Regrettably, the public instead rely heavily on publications such as the Daily Express and the Daily Mail to arm them with the 'facts'. Inevitably, this has led to an overwhelming fear of the EU and all it represents. Myths have been spread. Exaggerations made. Apparently, the EU dictates our laws, despite the fact that a detailed report by the House of Commons Library shows that less than 7% of all UK primary legislation comes from Europe. Why have these lies gone unchallenged? Why has Cameron not spoken out in passionate support of the EU? His refusal to pander to his backbenchers is commendable but ultimately he must be held responsible for their bigoted viewpoint. He has fed the beast and rattled the cage on numerous occasions in the past; this must not be forgotten during all the praise and hype.
Far from moulding itself for the 21st century, the Conservative Party has demonstrated this week that it still fails to understand the worries and concerns of the people of Britain. Whilst some on the Left argued in favour of a referendum - including Mehdi Hasan who stated, "Let's have an in/out referendum, win the argument and move on with our lives" - the vast majority have identified that, at this specific time, there is no national interest in having this EU debate; there are far more urgent matters in need of attention. How do the Tories intend to get people back in work? How will they boost economic growth? What will Cameron do to counter Alex Salmond and the SNP's sudden surge in Scotland? These issues shall affect the UK far more than our relationship with Europe.
Far more concerning is the covert message this in-house Tory scuffle projects. It could perhaps be seen as a confidence within the party; a confidence that suggests the Tories fully expect victory at the next election. With this Europe pantomime taking centre stage and the opposition unable to counter with a plausible narrative, control is undeniably in the Conservative's hands. This little public punch-up between cabinet and backbench merely indicates that Cameron knows his administration are in a strong position. Ed Miliband is still failing to make headway in numerous polls and the majority of the public still blame Brown's government for the problems currently staring Britain in the face. So, arrogant? Yes. Narcisstic? Yes. But the bottom line is that this revealing episode, whilst enlightening us of the fact that the Tories haven't changed and have not modernised, proves that Cameron has settled into Downing St and can already smell victory in 2015.