The Tories Must Learn to Love London Again

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Roula Khalaf, editor of the FT, picks her favorite stories in this weekly newsletter.

If there is such a thing as an iron law in politics, it is that people don’t vote for parties they don’t seem to like. Yet Britain’s Conservatives often seem to dislike much of the nation they govern.

The Tories increasingly sound like mourners at their own funeral, angrily denouncing the state of the country they have ruled for 14 years. Ministers, MPs and media representatives complain in language that suggests contempt for a large part of the population.

Nowhere is this more evident than in the vehement abuse of the capital. Barring a major surprise, they look set to suffer their third straight defeat in next week’s London mayoral election. Taylor Swift’s breakup song “So Long, London” could be the campaign song.

It’s not just about the mayoralty, although it is a contest in which they should be competitive and which may still be closer than polls suggest. Sadiq Khan, the incumbent Labor leader, is seeking a third term, although his record under the recently introduced and less favorable first-past electoral system is relatively mixed and he is particularly angry about his alleged anti-car agenda. The national trend may just be too strong for any Tory in this Remainer citadel – even though more Londoners voted for Brexit than for Khan at the last election. But with the right candidate, he could be vulnerable.

But the Tories didn’t bother to find this candidate. London is leaning left, but the Tories have traditional strength in the outer boroughs. Boris Johnson’s mayoral victories were based on this, but also on his obvious affection for the city. After an initial plan to pick a modern-minded challenger fell through amid allegations, the Tories chose Susan Hall, whose pointed but ineffective pitch will struggle beyond the suburban base.

Things could get worse in the general election, with all the Tories’ central London seats and many suburban strongholds at risk as younger families move abroad in search of affordable housing.

That was not always so. David Cameron and Johnson were obviously both from the city. Cameron’s close allies were known as the Notting Hill set and used totemic themes such as gay marriage and environmentalism to project a modern image. They were still Tories but seemed content with the times.

Today’s party rails against the city’s “metropolitan” values, while Rishi Sunak (Kensington House) and Liz Truss (Greenwich) have turned the north London residence into a line of attack. Public spending per head is still higher than any other region in England, but ministers are reluctant to announce this publicly.

The party’s language on immigration alienates many in a diverse and young city. During attacks on Khan, he was at times portrayed as a demonic figure and fueled Islamophobia. There is no sign of optimism or love for a vibrant metropolis; Recent campaigns portray it as a crime-infested hellhole.

Not all criticism is unfounded. The Southeast can be too unwelcoming to the rest of the country. But turning against the most important and highest-grossing city is self-defeating. It also helps explain why polls show you need to be over 70 before you’re more likely to vote Conservative.

The Tory’s difficulties in London go to the heart of the party’s national dilemma, not least because its hostile instincts are also visible in other English cities and towards communities considered unfriendly. Turning a country against itself is the tactic of demagogues. As Labor expands into the parts of the country it lost in the 2019 election, the Tories appear to be narrowing down the groups they want to win.

To put it in its own vernacular: the party does not need to “wake up” to take back the cities. Previous leaders have shown that it is entirely possible to follow mainstream Conservative values ​​and be viable in the capital.

As important as the tone is, with a few exceptions, such as Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, the Tories appear indifferent to the needs of the capital. And even Hunt has not shied away from unveiling a new non-dom tax system that will reduce London’s attractiveness to foreigners, just to boost Labor’s spending plans. The Tories need an economic offer to London. A post-Brexit strategy to attract investment and build homes is essential to closing a gap in societal values ​​and will be key to any recovery.

Brexit angered London voters not only because of the issue itself, but also because the Tories prioritized the capital’s economic interests, particularly financial services. The vibrant, open-for-business city that Cameron, George Osborne and (Mayor) Johnson are championing and which creates jobs and investment is not an issue for the Tories at the moment. While the improvement of other regions is laudable, it is no excuse for the fact that the supposed economic and growth party seems to despise the city that is doing the most to promote both.

Conservatives also need a convincing housing offer for the workers who are being driven out of the capital. Hall unconvincingly advocates more high-density living space, but also rejects high-rise buildings. And even Michael Gove’s rent reforms to improve conditions for tenants are being watered down by Tory MPs.

Sunak’s background and style made him the ideal man to reverse anti-London sentiment. But all efforts were drowned out by louder voices. Meanwhile, the Tories who could turn to London increasingly find the party unwelcome.

Rebuilding relations will be a sign that the Tories are striving to be a national party again. London will not bring victory to the Tories in the future, but being driven out of this country will certainly spell defeat.

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