June Diary
Hello,
Are we this deep into summer already?
Obligatory shilling. This month I wrote on THE ZONE against convenient untruths, on steelmanning leftism, on AI and algorithms, about the lessons that the right can take from Corbynism, in defence of quiet, on dullism and on right-wing comedy.
I wrote for The Critic about the Conservatives and immigration, the Polish border crisis, the European shift rightwards, Marianna Spring and misinformation, holidaying in other people’s misery and Conservative identity politics.
I wrote for The American Conservative about Nigel Farage and for The Spectator about energy drinks.
Finally, an interview I recorded with the Christian broadcasters Justin Brierley and Bella Tindall about God, agnosticism, “cultural Christianity” and growing up as an evangelical was released. I really enjoyed this conversation.
Are we doomed? The British elections are next week, but right-wing commentators are already looking past it to the Age of Starmer. Ed West reflects on the future of the right:
We live in a two-party system, which means that there will always be a left and right wing bloc, and for most of the past 100 years the latter has been in power. Based on historical trends you would be unwise to bet against the Conservative Party bouncing back, but in truth we don’t know. After its coming annihilation it faces a choice: on the one hand, of effectively abandoning the old gods altogether, to stop fighting culture wars and accept that the second reformation is done.
Or the Right will become something else, perhaps post-Christian altogether, and focussed - as in continental Europe - on identity. It might not be led by the Conservative Party at all, a movement which – though this is under-appreciated – is intimately tied to the fate and health of the Church of England, also in freefall and wholly captured.
Where it goes from here depends on the next generation and how they feel about the world their parents have left them, but that is a story for another day.
Sam Bidwell argues that the Conservatives can recover:
The Conservative Party should also aim to expand its coalition to accommodate younger voters, both politically and presentationally. As the recent success of conservative-nationalist movements on the continent demonstrates, younger voters are susceptible to progressive, optimistic visions from the political right. Making a success of this pivot will mean embracing the high-energy, tongue-in-cheek tone of modern political communication, and dropping dogmatic commitments to unsustainable financial burdens such as the pension triple lock.
Pimlico Journal offers ten policies for a better Britain:
As the Conservative Party is now third in the polls behind Reform, and the latter is yet to release their manifesto, we thought we would take this opportunity to offer some ideas for Britain’s new main opposition party, or indeed anyone else — ‘Start-up’, even Tory (unlikely) — who might be listening.
A bad man writes a worse book. David James trashes Alastair Campbell’s latest:
What we have instead is a depressing book, filled with dull information that can be found elsewhere, page after page of left-wing views expressed as common sense, and an authorial voice that should, in any sane, mature democracy, have been silenced by shame a long time ago. Only buy this book for someone you have nothing but contempt for.
Least worst options. Aris Roussinos reflects on how — if at all — war in Ukraine could end:
Controversial then, Haass’ analysis that “Peace in Ukraine cannot be held hostage to war aims that, however morally justified, are likely unattainable”, has held up well over the intervening year, with military trends moving in Russia’s favour, and political trends in both the US and Europe edging away from the firm and bottomless commitment to the war that Western leaders expressed at its beginning.
Practical natalism. Phoebe Arslanagic-Little responds to sceptics (like me) of the idea that policies can do much to raise birth rates:
Since the 1990s, Czechia has administered a thoughtful, consistent programme of policies intended to make life better and easier for parents. In 2017, these policies were strengthened, including better access to fertility assistance, a family-friendly tax system, and employer incentives to offer flexible working to young parents. Between 1999 and 2021, Czechia has seen its fertility rate increase from 1.13 to 1.83.
Do not dismiss Czechia’s achievement because they have not reached the golden “replacement rate” fertility rate of 2.1 children per woman — the level of fertility that means each generation is as large as the previous one, with no population decline. Economically and socially, the difference between a fertility rate of 1.13 and 1.83 is tremendous for any nation.
There’s no app for this. Magdalene Taylor makes the case for meeting in real life:
I know it’s not that easy. It might sound like I’m saying the only thing we all need to do here is change our perspectives. Well, to an extent, I am. The conversation at present is driven only by reflections on how bad things have gotten, what sorts of start ups and apps and digital members-only clubs could be the cure. People are even talking about arranged marriages. But none of this needs to be so complicated or terrifying. We need to build our lives to look something more like what they would have before our phones got in the way. We need to see our friends and families and extended human networks as our intermediaries, instead. Get your friends and their friends over to a dive bar.
Of course, I appreciate the mild irony of promoting this to my treasured Substack subscribers, almost none of whom I’ll ever meet. But I wish I could.
Caffeine and the sacred. Wessie du Toit reflects on caffeine:
Alongside anti-depressants, attention deficit medication and various stimulants, caffeine is now part of a pervasive chemical regime that allows our productivity-obsessed societies to maintain their relentless pace. But this only underscores how precious are the more reflective, convivial and civilised ways of enjoying it.
I’m sure Wessie would include a morning Monster among these reflective, convivial and civilised ways.
Have a lovely month,
Ben