Britain and America

The new conservatives: David Cameron and John McCain

Not so long ago Britain's David Cameron was something of an exception in global conservatism but that's changing fast.  Two more traditional conservatives - John Howard and George W Bush - have either left the stage or are about to depart.  In Australia John Howard has been replaced by a more centrist leader, Brendan Nelson.  If Super Tuesday votes as the polls predict, Senator John McCain will become the Republican Party's nominee and the de facto leader of America's conservatives.

Here is a summary of how Cameron and McCain are taking conservatism in new directions (and where they differ).

THE NEW CONSERVATISM OF CAMERON AND McCAIN

Greener: Both are of one mind on global warming, supporting government action to force reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.  Both see the European Union taking a lead on the issue.  John McCain has said that “Americans should welcome the rise of a strong, confident European Union."  He continued: "The future of the transatlantic relationship lies in confronting the challenges of the twenty-first century worldwide: developing a common energy policy, creating a transatlantic common market tying our economies more closely together, and institutionalizing our cooperation on issues such as climate change, foreign assistance, and democracy promotion.”

More civil libertarian: Both McCain and Cameron have been very critical of Guantanamo Bay.  Both have more sympathy for protecting civil liberties than George W Bush or Michael Howard.  They have both criticised aggressive interrogation techniques, including waterboarding.

Less impressed with tax relief: Both emphasise fiscal conservatism over supply-side tax relief.  John McCain twice voted against President Bush's tax cuts and David Cameron has pledged to limit promises of tax cuts to only those that can be fully funded by commensurate tax increases or by spending reductions.  Recently, however, John McCain has vowed to extend Bush's tax cuts and has demanded a tough approach to public spending.  UK Tories are pledged to match Labour on spending.

More welcoming of immigrants: Both men have antagonised elements within their parties who have wanted very hardline positions on immigration.  John McCain almost lost any chance of the Republican nomination when he sided with George W Bush on immigration reform and a form of amnesty for illegal immigrants.  David Cameron has substantially softened Tory rhetoric on immigration and towards asylum seekers, in particular.

Pragmatic on controversial medical research: Both men support embryonic stem cell research.

More gay-friendly:  David Cameron has moved the Conservative Party decisively in favour of gay rights issues and favours tax relief for same-sex couples who enter civil partnerships.  John McCain's position is less clear although he has described attempts to secure a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage as "un-Republican".  That opposition stems more from a respect for state rights than social conservatism, however.  He is thought to be sympathetic to civil partnerships.

Zero tolerance of ethical lapses: Both men take a low tolerance approach to ethical indiscretions by politicians.

David Cameron champions free trade, praises John McCain

Speaking at Davos last night, Conservative Party leader David Cameron warned against protectionist tendencies shown by India, China, and US presidential candidates on both sides:

"As politicians, our actions must match our rhetoric. No buying off domestic opinion with subsidies and barriers. At a time of global and economic uncertainty and of financial instability we must not pander to people's fears by peddling false hopes of protectionism.
 
In years to come, the world will look back at this period, and there will be heroes and there will be villains. The heroes will be those who held their nerve and stood up for free trade. The villains will be those who tried to push us over this tipping point and down the dangerous path of protectionism."

He singled out Republican candidate John McCain for praise in this respect, for arguing that protectionism would not bring back lost industrial jobs. The Telegraph's Rosa Prince, a former Daily Mirror journalist, seems to read too much into this by saying Cameron was breaking diplomatic convention and overtly backing McCain for president.

He may not be openly advocating his selection but he certainly seems to be the Republican of choice amongst Tories now, who are delighted that he has come full-circle in the polls since he spoke at their naitonal conference. The Independent's Pandora column wrote this on Tuesday:

"Quiet ripples of excitement among young turks at Conservative Central Office, as the Vietnam veteran John McCain edges into pole position to become the Republican Party's presidential candidate.

Junior aides have been informed that it is "taken as a given" that some of their number will be heading across the Atlantic should the Arizona senator get his name on November's ballot for the White House. Those selected will be able to cut their teeth in an election environment. The jostling for plane seats has started.

McCain and the Tories already enjoy a cosy relationship. The American visited Westminster in 2005 as a guest of Michael Gove, now shadow Schools Secretary, and spoke at the Tory conference in Bournemouth the following year, at the invitation of the shadow Chancellor, George Osborne."

Also worth noting is that whilst McCain spoke in glowing terms about Cameron in January 2006, by March 2007 he was saying that he felt decieved by Cameron about his stance on Iraq, after Cameron opposed more US troops in Iraq.

Our poll of thousands of Conservative Party members last June put McCain at a very distant second to Giuliani. We'll repeat the poll soon so it'll be interesting to see if they have switched places since then.

The special relationship within the special relationship

I've written for The Weekly Standard about David Cameron's Washington visit and the strategic importance of renewing the Conservative-Republican relationship.  Here is the text of my article:

"There has long been a special relationship within the special relationship between Britain and America. This is the close friendship of Britain's conservative party with America's Republican party. It was particularly strong when Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan were in office, and it remained so with their successors, John Major and George H.W. Bush, especially during the first Gulf War. (The two still holiday together.)

This relationship has fallen into disrepair in recent years. Tony Blair became the special friend of America. He understood that the world changed on 9/11, and the White House didn't just get close to Blair during his premiership but also chose to cold shoulder the conservative opposition at the same time. The previous Conservative leader, Michael Howard, was told that he wouldn't be welcome at the White House. Karl Rove took exception to the ways in which Howard's Tories were making the Iraq war difficult for Tony Blair.

David Cameron is first Tory leader to visit Washington in six years

I've written about it over at ConservativeHome.com.  Two posts:

1. Cameron reflects on thirty minute meeting with President Bush
2. Cameron reaffirms special relationship

"Cameron's 'spin team made up rift with Bush'"

That's the headline in today's Daily Telegraph above a story which claims that "David Cameron's advisers fabricated disagreements with George Bush to try to win favour with British voters."  The Telegraph story is based on a yet-to-be-published Spectator article by Fraser Nelson in which it is reported that the White House sees the Conservative Party as "a party of turncoats, opportunists and undependable allies who strike a sorry contrast with the steadfast Tony Blair."  Team Cameron won't be worried about the deterioration in relations with the unpopular George W Bush.  They'll be more concerned at recent reports that John McCain and Rudy Giuliani are also cooling towards the Tories.

At the Commons yesterday evening there was a joint gathering of Republicans Abroad and Conservatives Abroad.  The fact that Al Gore is due to address the Conservative frontbench team today was a topic of concerned conversation.  The event was nonetheless wowed by enthusiastic Atlanticist Liam Fox.  An 18DoughtyStreet.com citizen journalist report of his talk can be watched below.  His speech begins with reflections on the 'renewal of Trident' vote.