I fear the rise of National Conservatism

Look at the website and see what their beliefs are, Fleurpepper. It’s far worse than you think.

Perhaps because he subscribes to their worrying views and they’re delighted to have someone from Cambridge because it sounds impressive - though he’s only an associate professor. You get weirdos in all the major universities.

Germanshepherdsmum

Have you looked at the NC’s website Fleurpepper? Looked at the names there? Looked at their beliefs? They are not the ERG, though some ERG members may have espoused their cause. These people are not simply Vote Leave in disguise. Their beliefs are far more sinister, much as you may wish to think that all paths lead to Brexit.

Been very busy, sorry. First names in Andrew Marr's report are 'Rees-Mogg, Gove and Braverman' all staunch ERG, and then Tice and Farage ... allying themselves to fascists all over the world. Yes, the ERG +++ - truly terrifying.

GSM okay. Fine. I didn’t claim any gravitas for legal background. Just trying to understand how someone from Cambridge University which usually does have gravitas is involved.

I’m an ex lawyer. So? I don’t claim any intellectual superiority such that my presence on a platform gives that platform any degree of gravitas.

Growstuff I last five minutes listening to Roger Scruton so admire your perseverance!

James Orr ex lawyer

I think James Orr is heading up the Edmund Burke input gsm

ronib

growstuff

Ooops! Sorry, I thought you were trying to say Scruton would be there which, considering he's dead, would be a miracle.

Sorry! But I had no time at all for Roger Scruton. I found his values abhorrent.

Growstuff I am impressed that you even spent the time trying to work out what his views were!

Why? I don't understand this comment.

He is a professor of philosophy of religion - nuff said?

Very interesting Daisyanne, it is this constant drip feeding of Nationalism that is worrying turning people against others just because they are different to you that is worrying also the way things are interpreted in the main stream press .

But there are some serious heavyweights in the mix - James Orr for example based in Cambridge?

Two of the major concerns with this bunch: it hails from the US - do we really want to go down that route?; and it has a religious basis - but only the "right" religion of course - I guess that relates to its US bias.

It is striking in its total naivety - no sane adult believes that life is not full of nuances and cannot be broken down into simplistic slogans.

But they will get their supporters, terrifying though that is.

growstuff

Ooops! Sorry, I thought you were trying to say Scruton would be there which, considering he's dead, would be a miracle.

Sorry! But I had no time at all for Roger Scruton. I found his values abhorrent.

Growstuff I am impressed that you even spent the time trying to work out what his views were!

Yes, Maizie. I do.

I think we are all getting a bit agitated and do we know exactly why? Yes Scruton died in 2020 but probably other speakers from the same conference made it on to YouTube.

Andrew Doyle is on the “list” posted.
He’s a card carrying member of Labour Party.
He voted for Corbyn in the leadership race.

Ooops! Sorry, I thought you were trying to say Scruton would be there which, considering he's dead, would be a miracle.

Sorry! But I had no time at all for Roger Scruton. I found his values abhorrent.

Germanshepherdsmum

I hold traditional Conservative values and it’s the party for which I always vote, apart from a brief dalliance with Blair.

A bit of a deviation from the topic, but do you think that the tory party as it is in government now is upholding traditional Conservative values, GSM?

ronib

Roger Scruton, among others, at the National Conservatism Conference in London May 13,2019 - YouTube video Renewing our communities by revitalising the nation state. 35 minutes.

Maybe a quick introduction into the theory/thought behind the organisation?

If Roger Scruton is going to be there, I'm afraid it says just about everything for me.

25Avalon

I don’t fear them. I’ve read or tried to read all their gumph and it’s quite complicated, much more than it would appear on this thread. One of the articles on the link entitled “National Conservatism- a liberal response” by Alex Morton on 5th April said “Regardless of how you feel about National Conservatism and its goals, this is an impressive Conference that is at least trying to grapple with big ideas. In a world of dreary technocratic decline, even a national liberal such as myself welcomes the challenge and debate this will bring. After all, liberals have always welcomed the challenge of debate and free thinking ideas and I look forward to attending the conference in a few weeks.”

I think we should listen to what they have to say before we make up our minds.

I'm sure you know that Alex Morton is a writer for Conservative Home and not exactly without bias.

In what way is this conference "impressive"?

The "big ideas" seem to be how to counter social liberalism. There can't be anybody who's interested in politics who doesn't know what the agenda of the British speakers is.

They don't have any economic answers, so they distract with social conservatism, which they know will always "sell" to voters in the UK.

People don't need to be a political Einstein to see which way politics in the UK (and internationally) has been heading for some time. Look across the Atlantic and to countries such as Hungary to see where we're heading socially.

Yes, let them speak but let's hope people have their critical thinking caps on.

To partially satisfy you, HPQ, my politics are right-leaning but I voted Remain and have never watched GB News.

Thank you for explaining that - what are traditional Conservative values?

I hold traditional Conservative values and it’s the party for which I always vote, apart from a brief dalliance with Blair.

ronib

We don’t actually know what this is? When we find out, then that’s the time to throw a wobbly garnet 25.
I have a horrible feeling that this is a load of confused intellectuals …..

Errmm ... it's not that difficult to know what it's all about, if you follow international and national political trends.