The United Kingdom has spoken. Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Conservative Party took the House of Commons by storm in the general election, earning an 80-seat majority, the party’s largest since 1987. The results confirm a staggering realignment in the U.K.’s political landscape, as the Brexit-backed Tories gained substantial members from typically Labour-voting regions, including North East England.
What do the results mean for conservatism in general? Around the world, right wing populism continues to be the recipe for campaign success. In 2016, Donald Trump’s campaign shocked the liberal US mainstream media. Earlier in 2019, the EU’s Parliamentary Election saw the right wing Brexit Party surge in the UK, Italy and Wales, while Marine Le Pen’s National Rally defeated Macron’s side in France. Thursday, Boris’ right wingers continued the trend, locking down a supple share of MPs behind the Brexit platform.
President Trump called the Tory victory “impressive”, also hinting that the results could be a sign of things to come in America’s 2020 election. Based on the pattern we’re seeing globally, the President may be exactly right; conservatism seems to be winning.
Once his majority was confirmed, the Prime Minister addressed the restless UK, calling Thursday’s results the “irrefutable, irresistible, unarguable decision of the British people.”
Boris continued:
I THINK THIS WILL TURN OUT TO BE A HISTORIC ELECTION THAT GIVES US NOW, IN THIS NEW GOVERNMENT, THE CHANCE TO RESPECT THE DEMOCRATIC WILL OF THE BRITISH PEOPLE.
Contrary to narrowing left-wing polls leading up to decision day, Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour Party flopped under pressure from the Brexit coalition, winning just 32.2% of the overall share:
In 1987, during Margaret Thatcher’s last term as Prime Minister, Conservatives triumphantly secured 47% of Parliament’s seats, as opposed to 2019’s 43.6% showing. However, it could be argued that Boris’ coalition’s victory is even more resounding — and symbolic — than that of Maggie T’s.
With an overwhelming majority, Boris Johnson and the Conservatives will look to take action for the people, and finally make a Brexit deal happen.
