Not so recent, it's been a steady transition since the silliness under Major with the rebels over Maastricht. Labour were almost as split at the time.
My problem is they've become a party of international finance, hedge funds and so on. No longer is a conservative MP or Lord the former exec of a successful FTSE company, or something in the city, which of course is now mainly US. The policies benefit international finance not Britain and the British, candidates are selected accordingly. Rees Mogg being perfect example.
I can imagine a Churchill, Macmillan, Heath or even Heseltine or Thatcher putting through the environmental parts of Labour's manifesto -- that's good One Nation Conservatism without the parts remaking capitalism. No one since though. Thatcher fully believed the science, and made a UN speech in 89, and many others, calling for world climate action way beyond anything that's actually happened. Churchill did so much to create the European Court of Human rights and Convention.
The referendum campaign basically promised no deal was not possible, so yes they should deliver what was promised. Though allowing a referendum without supermajority so we're forever stuck at 50:50 was madness. Austerity was dogma from day one -- no one overspent, it was a global banking bubble, but gave an excuse to push libertarian shrinking of government. Yet QE was full on Keynes, just this time for the benefit of international finance, not the country. Every event kicks the fringe to the centre, and remakes the party a little further off centre.
That's my take. Internet politics is of course mostly futile, have a peaceful and prosperous New Year. :)
