Tory opinion
Sir: It was heartwarming to read your description of the earnest antics of the Bow Groupers (Nov ember 13). At the same time however I made a reflection which "let the eternal note of sadness in." The fact is that by applying their caresses steadfastly to Mr Heath's posterior they have succeeded in pushing forward their views to the extent that on certain crucial domestic issues, social ones, the Government's policy resembles more a kind of Liberalism than that Conservatism for which a worried electorate cast so many votes in the last election. And what is the fate of so much genuine conservative opinion? Is it not suffering at this moment from a great attack of impotence? And is not one of the major reasons for this the fact that Heath needs support in his own party for the conduct of his Government, and those who give it, like the Bow Group, are in a better bargaining position than we are? Frankly, sir, I do believe the analogy so often quoted in The Spectator's pages between today's politics and those of Peel and 1846 holds to a significant degree. But I interpret it somewhat differently. I fear that by opposing something like the Common Market we may doom ourselves to impotence and we may do so for a long time. Great as the change seems I think that conservatism is more Important than even this choice. It may be that we are being forced by an inevitable process into the Market. It may be that this is not the case. I know not. But I do know that it is the society of this country which is even more important than such considerations and it is vital that conservative opinion should be effective in this sphere. That is what people voted for in the last election. The captains and the kings depart, but the manner in which we live in this country stands, the debate on that goes on, and we must make our contribution to it.
R. Tate Institute of Historical Research, Senate House. University of London, London WC1
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