Conservative Conference reveals massive internal divisions
- By Sumantra Maitra
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E-mail China.org.cn, October 12, 2015
George Osborne, tipped as Cameron's successor, gave the blandest of the speeches where he claimed to take the mantle of the center right. That made him actually move considerably left, and he even replied to an interview stating that he considers himself a progressive, which most of his compatriots thought to be a joke, coming from the person who decided on austerity policies for U.K.
Some potential financial backers have already withdrawn, believing Osborne lacks vision.
But the ultimate difference was evident in back-to-back speeches by Home Secretary Theresa May and London Mayor Boris Johnson. May thundered about immigration stating that it is destroying the social fabric of United Kingdom. Immigration, she said, means that there can be no cohesion in a society. It had also been terrible economically for Britain - a claim refuted by her own department stating that immigration added over 20 billion pounds to the economy.
In an ironic twist, Boris Johnson was called on to speak immediately after May, and being a cosmopolitan mayor from the biggest city in Europe, he ripped apart the myth that immigration has been bad for England.
Once tipped to succeed Cameron, he was also in his campaign mode, putting himself left of both Osborne and May. While May didn't even distinguish between migrants, refugees, and genuine students and researchers who come to U.K., Johnson saw immense benefits for British education and business.
It is going to be an interesting next five years in England, especially for a foreign researcher, as the country and both the major parties struggle to forge a path to stay relevant in global politics, without going back to divisive 1980s politics or giving in to utter xenophobia.
The writer is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit:
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