Remember when the Tories had been in power for about a decade?
Towards the end of their electoral term, they began bleeding support to an upstart party called Reform.
Reform supporters think the Tories aren't Tory-ing hard enough. They're too soft on queer people and immigrants and Black and Brown people and disabled people – and pretty much anyone who isn't a wealthy cis-het White man. The Tories aren't remotely soft on anyone, of course. But Reform has managed to convince people that it's marginalised people who are somehow to blame for everything bad.
The election comes along and the so-called centre-left party wins an overwhelming parliamentary majority despite taking less than half the vote.
But Reform isn't finished. The Tories continue to bleed support to Reform. Until, a few years later, Reform just absorbs the Tories.
Over the next few years, they go through a few different names (including an unfortunate acronym). Eventually, they rebranding as – wait for it – the Conservatives.
The new Conservative party has shed itself of all the 'moderates' and 'progressives' in their midst. Their new leader, naturally, was originally elected under the Reform ticket.
And so, they win. A Reform MP (now a Tory MP) becomes Prime Minister. Over the next ten years, he and his pals set about Reforming the country. Decimating services. Slashing rights. Somehow not saving any money.
Sounds terrifying, right?
Except I'm not just predicting the future. I'm telling you about the past.
Because this isn't about the UK; it's about Canada. Except, of course, it is about the UK.
As a dual Canada-UK citizen, please don't let my past also be my future.
