THE BLOG 17/06/2019 06:00 BST | Updated 33 minutes ago Rory Stewart Is Ready To Lead – But Are Tories Like Me Ready For Him? Stewart has the ability to look beyond the narrow party lines, unite this country and embark us upon a renewal of our values through Brexit and beyond. Patrick O'Connor Young Conservative In a little under six weeks, this country will have a new prime minister tasked with breaking the impasse in parliament, and charting a new course for our country. It is clear that our party, and the country, is crying out for change. The concept of change is often bounced around in the political arena, yet our politician’s ability to deliver real, tangible change is being scrutinised and questioned like never before.
The impasse in parliament is no doubt confirming these fears, and it is a reflection of a Westminster system that is broken. A system that is dominated by dogmatic tribalism and an almost religious observance to a rigid set of party lines. It is this combination of party-political intransigence which has seen our democratic system fall short of the task set before it.
To break the logjam in parliament, and to manoeuvre our way towards a Brexit deal which can command a majority in the House of Commons will require a dose of realism and compromise. We must be realistic that there is no majority in parliament for a no-deal Brexit. Similarly, any prime minister who saw the prorogation of parliament as a suitable means to achieving a no-deal exit should realise that it would be deeply unconstitutional to do so, and such a prime minister would not be able to command the confidence of the house. Rory Stewart understands this reality; and is steadfast in his determination to deliver Brexit in a way that strengthens, not weakens, our Union, and provides us as a nation the opportunities to renew ourselves post-Brexit.
Rory Stewart is a politician who sees the world as it is. He has an ability to look beyond the narrow party lines, and draw inspiration from across the political spectrum. This is not only a recipe for electoral success, but perhaps a more cohesive political discourse.
The truth of the matter is that Brexit has divided us a nation, it has made our politics move to the realms of the theoretical. It has created a division between our political class and the people. The uniqueness of Rory’s campaign is that he does not speak solely to the parliamentary party, he has brought his campaign to the people. His walks from Poplar to Wigan to Northern Ireland and Edinburgh have said to people that here is a leader willing to listen and engage with them. It has made our politics more accessible, more tangible in a way in which we can begin to rebuild people’s faith in our democratic institutions.
More than his campaign itself, what earned him my vote is that here is a politician willing to tell us the truth. The truth is that the only way to find a solution to Brexit is through a compromise, based loosely on the Withdrawal Agreement. There is no appetite in Europe for renegotiation, and the British people want Brexit delivered swiftly so we can begin to deal with the major challenges facing our society; whether that be the shortage of affordable housing, the social care crisis or infrastructure in the north of the country.
It is not un-Conservative to seek a compromise with other parties. It does not make him un-Conservative if he can gain support from Labour voters. The very essence of conservatism is a desire to preserve the best of who we are as a country, through a recognition that we can only preserve these things if we are willing to reform it.
Rory Stewart is the only candidate with the courage to tell us the truth. And the truth is this; Rory Stewart has the ability to unite this country and to build a more caring society. He is the candidate to embark us upon a renewal of our values post-Brexit and beyond. The only question left to answer is: are we ready for Rory?
Related... How Sajid And Rory's Fresh Faces Could Be A Threat To Boris Tory Leadership Candidate Appeals To Young People Like Me Are A Farce A Boris Premiership Is A Horrifying Prospect For Minorities Like Me
