‘He's lost control… again’ Part 2: How the Conservatives’ Islamophobia crisis has exposed a much darker side to the party’s fight for ideological purity
Throughout Rishi Sunak's tenure as Prime Minister, the Conservative Party has been grappling with a fundamental breakdown in discipline within its ranks. It can be traced back to the nomination of Sunak himself, actually - or rather, the fact that nobody even nominated him.
It's worth reflecting on the process through which Sunak ascended to the role of Prime Minister; he effectively became the default leader of the country through a process of elimination. Sunak emerged as the last standing candidate after every other contender withdrew from the leadership race.
The consequence of this is that he leads a group of MPs who clearly lack respect for his authority, behaving akin to unruly school children testing the limits of their teacher's control by throwing random objects at the back of his head, and challenging his authority at every turn. Often, these actions seem designed solely to gauge his reaction. Sometimes, it’s designed to pressure - with some degree of success.
Suella Braverman stands out as the MP who has tested Sunak’s patience the most since her reappointment as Home Secretary. Her departure from the role in November last year served as a catalyst for much of the current factional strife we witness today. This tension primarily revolves around contentious issues such as immigration, race, and other cultural divides, with some less prominent though nonetheless divisive topics fueling the discord.
Amid the chaos, numerous factions have emerged, each with their own leader vying for prominence. They appear to be auditioning either to lead the Conservative Party post its predicted demise or to secure roles in a future cabinet, where the party's ideological trajectory will be determined.