Here’s a very helpful and insightful piece by Tim Montgomerie. I’m drawn to two elements in particular. The Conservatives returned to a concern for civil liberties:
Once the party of authoritarianism the Conservatives have about-turned and become a vigorous opponent of Labour’s plans for a national ID card and for an extended period of detention without charge. A more respectful view of same-sex relationships has also bought David Cameron greater opportunity to make the case for traditional marriage.
And if I were part of the degenerate "conservative" think-tank-magazine establishment, I would also note this:
The two think tanks that have had most influence on Project Cameron didn’t exist when the Conservatives were last in power: Policy Exchange and the Centre for Social Justice. Policy Exchange (or PX as it is known) was founded by Nicholas Boles and Michael Gove. Boles now runs the Conservative Party’s preparation-for-government unit and Michael Gove MP is the party’s education minister-in-waiting with an ambitious programme for schools reform in his briefcase.
And Nick Boles is openly gay. Imagine that in today’s Dixified GOP.
The Dish 