One big question is: Should Prime Minister Rishi Sunak have removed very conservative members from his party? Here are the key points:
- Rishi kept working with people on the far-right wing of his party
- Some say leaders like Rishi need to get rid of extreme views in their party
- It could help Rishi look stronger and attract more moderate voters
- But it’s risky and could cause more division in his party
Will getting rid of the far-right help or hurt Rishi? That’s what this article explores.
Rishi Didn’t “Purge” the Far-Right
When Rishi Sunak became Prime Minister, he allowed very conservative MPs to stay in his party. He worked with people like Nigel Farage and the Reform Party, which some see as extreme.
Matthew Parris, a columnist, said Rishi should have “purged the extreme right” from his party. Parris warned Rishi twice that the far-right Tories “don’t like you and won’t respect you.” He said they had already caused problems for past PMs like Theresa May.
Why Didn’t Rishi Clean House?
There are a few reasons why Rishi may have avoided removing the far-right faction:
- He didn’t want a huge fight and more division within his party
- He may have wanted to appeal to those very conservative voters
- Rishi himself likely agrees with some of their policies and views
Parris thinks Rishi “is quite right-wing himself” and wants to gain support from that group, even if it means tolerating extreme opinions.
The Argument for “Purging” the Far-Right
On the other hand, there’s an argument that Rishi should have been tougher on the extreme far-right. Here’s why some say he should have removed them:
- It would show strong leadership and command over his party
- It signals a clear break from past controversial figures
- It could attract more moderate or centrist voters turned off by extremism
Political columnist Matthew Parris says by not purging the far-right, Rishi fails to establish his authority. Voters may worry that fringe groups will cause him trouble like they did for past Tory leaders.
What Labour Did With the Far-Left
To give an example, Labour leader Keir Starmer took decisive action against the far-left elements in his party. Though controversial, he:
- Blocked some far-left candidates from running
- Removed allies of Jeremy Corbyn, the former far-left leader
- Clearly rejected the extreme left views that drove voters away
Parris argues this “ruthless” move shows Starmer’s strength and reassures voters the party has changed. He says Rishi should have done something similar on the right.
A Messy, Dull Campaign So Far
No matter what, this election campaign has been quite messy and, some say, dull so far. Both parties have spent more time arguing internally than attacking each other.
The drama and division have overshadowed their policy messaging. There’s a lack of exciting personalities or “characters” like Boris Johnson providing entertaining moments.
In the end, this election may come down to whether voters want Rishi Sunak’s continuation or Keir Starmer’s change of direction. However, there are certainly bigger challenges facing Britain that no party seems very focused on yet.
Do you think Rishi made a mistake in not confronting the extreme right of his party? Or was it smarter to avoid that fight? Let me know your thoughts.
