In this week’s episode of the Blueprint podcast, journalist Juliet Samuel joins the Blueprint Podcast for a wide-ranging conversation on the state of modern conservatism, the failures of the political class, and the challenges ahead for Britain.
From libertarian student in the US to columnist at the Times – a sharp observer of British politics, Juliet reflects on the Conservative Party’s 14 years in power and delivers an unflinching assessment of its shortcomings.
Samuel makes the rather stark claim that since 2010 there has never really been a project about what the country should become, describing austerity under David Cameron as a reaction rather than a vision. To many the Cameron-Osborne represents the last real period of stability in centre right politics – yet this take suggests that it was their political decision making that was the beginning of the end for the Tory Party’s time in office.
For Juliet, the missed opportunity to reform Britain’s institutions has left the country stagnating, with the government unable to wield power effectively.
Brexit, naturally, was a key part of the discussion. While she credits Boris Johnson for “getting Brexit done”, Juliet doesn’t shy away from pointing to the failures that followed. She recounts the moment after the referendum when a vacuum of leadership led to paralysis, arguing that someone from Vote Leave had to come on the nation’s TV screens and say where they were going to take the country. Instead, she notes, chaos ensued, culminating in years of dysfunction under Theresa May.
Juliet’s scepticism extends to the Conservative Party’s handling of immigration. With levels reaching 700,000 a year, she warns that Reform UK – far from being a “flash in the pan” – could grow into a major force if the issue isn’t addressed. She acknowledges Reform’s sharp understanding of modern political tools like social media but questions whether their economic agenda could withstand scrutiny if they approached power.
Yet Juliet doesn’t simply focus on critique – she offers insights into what’s needed for a revival of the centre-right. She uses her time on the Blueprint Podcast to call for deeper thinking on reforming the state, fixing institutional inertia, and reconnecting with the British public. Interestingly, for her, Kemi Badenoch represents a leader with the potential to rise to this task, if she can focus on what truly matters and avoid distractions.
Reflecting on conservatism itself, Juliet strikes a balance between tradition and pragmatism. She highlights the importance of preserving the weight of wisdom and history while recognising the need to adapt. Rejecting the excessive individualism that she believes has defined post-Thatcher conservatism, Juliet makes a compelling case for rebuilding collective values—from family and community to nationhood—as the foundation for a Conservative renewal.
For anyone frustrated with the failures of the political class, disillusioned by the state of British institutions, or curious about what a true Conservative revival might look like, Juliet Samuel’s episode of The Blueprint offers a deep intellectual analysis of the current iteration centre right.