And thus we arrive at the most important (and inevitable) of all deflationary trends: demographic change. Retired people tend to consume less than their working age compatriots – thus putting downward pressure on demand as the population ages.
They have grown up in a cultural milieu that denigrates Britain’s culture and history to the point that the idea it is even worthy of respect – never mind dying for – is ridiculous.
Despite several women – including Aphra Brandreth – recently being selected, on current polling, the spectre of a shrinking female presence on the Conservative benches still looms.
My hunch is the next generation of aspiring leaders will have a firmer grip on the meaning of conservatism than the current crop. Or, at least, I hope so — otherwise there might not be a party to lead.
The demographic tide can’t be turned back, but its advance can be slowed – by the self-reinforcing triangle of stronger families, better schools, good jobs, and the stronger society that these help to build.
Having fewer babies would certainly mean fewer Carbon emitters. But celebrating population decline ignores the many dire consequences of a shrinking tax-base.
The sixteenth article in a new series on ConHome about how government might be made smaller, taxpayers better off and and society stronger – through strong families, better schools and good jobs.
The conference showed a large number of people, many of them young, wondering what part a rehabilitated, reinvigorated, Christian conservatism inspired by Burke and Disraeli might have to play.
We kick off a ConservativeHome project on strong families, better schools and good jobs today – indispensable means of achieving a smaller state and a stronger society.
Blair said that he wanted Britain “to be a young country again”. It wasn’t one then and isn’t one now. There is a fittingness in King Charles being the oldest monarch ever to take our throne.
My argument is simply one of affordability (including, by the way, by dropping the triple lock) if our public finances are going to be sustainable.
We are absurdly reluctant to talk about the policies needed to encourage the birth of more children.
Census data may reveal once again that the UK has an ageing population, but in some ‘true blue’ Conservative seats, voters are only getting younger.
Trying to decipher which Government has been “best” and “worst” at handling the crisis is a tricky endeavour.
People are having fewer children than they want: 80 per cent of British women of childbearing age want at least two children, with an average number of desired children of 2.35 per woman – far above the current total fertility rate of 1.49.