Political prediction is a mug’s game. Wise commentators should try to refrain from too many of them. Yet it is hard to look at Rishi Sunak’s government right now and not offer one. Here’s mine. Amid the government’s current struggles, a culture war campaign against liberal institutions is increasingly likely to be the centrepiece of the Conservative general election effort next year. For convenience, call it Enemies of the People 2.
It was not intended to be like this when Sunak took over. When he first set out his five priority targets, the goals by which he invited the public to judge his government when election day came, they appeared quite sensibly chosen, mostly modest, perhaps at least partially achievable and a welcome contrast from the gassy bombast of Boris Johnson and the delusional dogmas of Liz Truss.
