In Search of the ‘Good Tory’

The reaction to the downfall of Iain Dale's short-lived political career tells us a lot about how politics and media really works in the UK

Iain Dale moderating a Conservative Party leadership hustings in 2019

There is a certain type of liberal commentator who likes nothing more than to alight upon an example of ‘the Good Tory’.

This much-sought archetype can often be found offering mild criticism of some Government policy, which is instantly relayed on social media with praise for their ‘brave’ and ‘sane’ invention.

This praise even continues once it is later revealed that the politician in question did not actually end up voting against the policy they so publicly criticised.

I was reminded of this trend yesterday, after the LBC host, turned wannabe prospective parliamentary candidate, Iain Dale ended up terminating his short-lived political career, following my story about his past comments.

Across Twitter, prominent liberal commentators lined up to praise Dale and lament the failure of his career in Conservative politics.