The Conservatives’ defeat is self-inflicted

When the bell rings, defeat is most likely inevitable. The Conservative Party is expected to face a resounding loss in next week’s UK parliamentary elections, with the rival Labour Party likely to sweep electoral districts previously dominated by its stubborn opponent. The call for accountability will likely echo throughout the powerful British party, prompting a search for answers as to why such a defeat occurred after 14 years in power, starting with David Cameron (currently foreign secretary) becoming prime minister in 2010.

The answer to this question, in short, is that having one party in government for such an extended period naturally leads to alienation for many people in any democratic society. This often prompts a demand for change, even if it involves uncertain risks. In this context, the Surrey Comet newspaper quoted James Andrew Craig, who will vote in the Wimbledon constituency, as saying that change is necessary to eliminate “the worst Conservative governments and the series of disasters that the current government inherited from its predecessors.” Conversely, there are voters who prioritize the nation’s interests over personal grievances, seeking to avoid the unforeseen consequences of any abrupt change.

Having one party in government for such an extended period naturally leads to alienation for many people in any democratic society

Bakir Oweida

Among them is Chris Howell, who tells me he does not agree with any of the Conservative Party’s policies, but he will not vote for the Labour Party either. When I ask him why, the 50-year-old man explains that he believes the Labour Party will destroy Britain and may even drag it into a war with Russia. This surprising conclusion prompts me to seek further clarification. Chris, who belongs to the working class, elaborates that he thinks Labour will leave Ukraine to fight Russia alone, which would encourage Moscow to expand into Europe, ultimately leading to a direct conflict with Britain.

So, who will Chris vote for? He says he will cast his vote for Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party candidate. Chris’ explanation sheds light on his reasoning. Farage, known for his disruptive tactics, often fails to secure a significant share of the electoral vote but succeeds in reshuffling the political landscape by siphoning votes away from the mainstream Conservative and Labour parties. This is a method some voters use solely to express their dissatisfaction.

In addition to the above, there is an aspect that most observers, both inside and outside Britain, agree on: the resounding defeat of the Conservatives in next week’s elections is largely the result of the actions of the party’s leaders themselves. This outcome stems from the series of internal conflicts that erupted within the party following the succession of Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss and now Rishi Sunak. 

• Bakir Oweida is a Palestinian journalist who pursued a professional career in journalism in Libya in 1968, where he worked at Al-Haqiqa newspaper in Benghazi, then Al-Balagh and Al-Jihad in Tripoli. He has written for several Arab publications in Britain since 1978. He worked at Al-Arab newspaper, Al-Thadamun magazine and the international Arabic newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat. He has also worked as a consultant at the online newspaper Elaph.