Former Conservative Party grandees Norman Tebbit and Jeffrey Archer have reignited tensions within the Tory ranks with contrasting visions for the party's future, while ex-leader Iain Duncan Smith offered a more measured perspective.
The Thatcherite Divide
Lord Tebbit, the famously combative Thatcher-era cabinet minister, launched a scathing critique of modern Conservatism, declaring it had abandoned its core principles. "We've lost our way," the 92-year-old peer told reporters, lamenting what he sees as a departure from Margaret Thatcher's ideological legacy.
In stark contrast, novelist and former MP Jeffrey Archer struck an optimistic tone: "The Conservative Party has always been at its best when adapting to changing times while maintaining its fundamental values."
Duncan Smith Calls for Unity
Former party leader Iain Duncan Smith struck a conciliatory note, urging Conservatives to focus on policy rather than personality. "What matters now isn't nostalgic debates about the 1980s, but delivering practical solutions for today's challenges," he commented.
The remarks come as current Work and Pensions Secretary Therese Coffey faces increasing scrutiny over her department's performance, with some backbenchers privately questioning whether her approach aligns with traditional Conservative values.
Generational Tensions Surface
Political analysts suggest these public disagreements reflect deeper generational divides within the party:
- The Thatcherite "old guard" clinging to 1980s ideology
- Post-Thatcher pragmatists advocating modernization
- Brexit-era Conservatives seeking to redefine Toryism
With the party trailing in recent polls, these ideological rifts threaten to undermine Conservative unity ahead of the next general election.
