The inability to grasp the concerns of voters and resolve internal divisions will be the death of British and Australian conservatives.
Perhaps the most noticeable feature of politics in the West in recent years has been the swift and irreversible demise of traditional conservative parties.
The disappearance of these parties has been dramatically illustrated by the grim fates that now await the UK Conservative Party and the Liberal/National Party coalition in Australia.
The Conservative Party governed the UK from 2010 until last year. The Coalition government held office in Australia from 1996 to 2007, and from 2013 until 2022. Both of these parties were soundly defeated at the polls by ideologically unified social democratic parties that were led by uninspiring and pedestrian politicians – namely Keir Starmer and Anthony Albanese.
This suggests that voters rejected the conservatives, rather than warmly embracing their social democratic opponents. UK Labour’s rapid fall from grace since last year’s election victory and the party’s current unpopularity confirms the correctness of this view.
More troubling for conservatives is the ideological fragmentation that has engulfed these parties. The UK Conservative Party is now split between traditionalists and reformists, unable to form a cohesive policy agenda. Similarly, Australia’s Liberal/National Coalition is plagued by disputes over climate change policy and migration, fracturing its base and alienating voters who feel these parties have abandoned their core principles.
The failure to address economic inequality has further eroded trust. While these parties once championed free markets and limited government, they have increasingly relied on borrowing to fund public services, perpetuating a cycle of debt and austerity. This has not only alienated working-class voters but also made them vulnerable to more radical alternatives that promise tangible change.
Leadership failures have compounded these challenges. Figures like Kemi Badenoch and Sussan Ley have struggled to provide vision or coherence, often focusing on short-term political maneuvering rather than long-term strategy. Their reluctance to outline clear policy directions has left their parties looking weak and directionless.
The political landscape is shifting rapidly. The Reform Party in the UK, which has risen by addressing voter concerns about migration and economic issues, poses a credible threat to the Conservatives. In Australia, the One Nation Party, led by figures like Barnaby Joyce, offers an alternative that promises to challenge both the coalition’s policies and its leadership.
These developments signal a broader trend in Western politics. Traditional conservative parties, once dominant forces, are struggling to adapt to changing voter priorities and internal divisions. As they continue to grapple with these challenges, the future of these parties remains uncertain.
Meanwhile, the rise of more unified social democratic parties like Labour and the Australian Labor Party has created new dynamics in political competition. These parties, despite their own shortcomings, have managed to present coherent policy platforms that resonate with voters disillusioned with traditional conservatism.