One of the many things that has been neglected in the Conservative Party because of all-consuming Brexit is a meaningful debate about markets and business.
Confronted with a Labour leader offering a clear critique of capitalism as a “rigged” system and outflanked by Nigel Farage telling a remarkably similar story about big money financing a self-regarding elite, the Tories have generally offered two responses. Both are flawed.
On one hand are those who think the answer to complaints about the economy is to yell about Margaret Thatcher, Milton Friedman and sometimes Singapore. Liz Truss has become the most prominent advocate of what Stian Westlake rather brilliantly calls “live-action role-playing Thatcherism”. But there are many Tories who appear to think that the vote to Leave – and the relative popularity of Jeremy Corbyn – are a demand from the electorate for lower taxes, deregulation and an unabashed celebration of big business.
On the other end of this spectrum are the would-be populists willing to ape Corbyn-Farage with a stance on business and markets driven by Brexit.
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