What remains of Dunkirk

Photography by Colin Smith

In light of Brexit, Léa Carrier investigates the position of young Conservatives at UCL.

“This is Dunkirk. Who will be the first on the beach? Who will be the first to fight for our country?”  

Memory commands a nation. In this packed room nestled in the heart of London, the emblematic shore sounds like a call for national allegiance. Fists ascend and decibels rise, as a patriotic exhilaration bounces back on the loose tongues of the UCL Conservative Society members. 

“I'll be the first one on the beach!” Among them, Jack Walters; straight as a tower, eyes gleaming with the memory of past victories. The History student from Essex is looking forward to the imminent exit of the United Kingdom from the European Union. In anticipation of 31st October, he and 50 other Pro-Brexit students gathered to discuss possible outcomes of the continental divorce: ‘hard’ or ‘soft’  Brexit? With or without a deal? For these young Conservatives, one thing remains certain: the United Kingdom must take over the reins of its parliament. 

On 26th May 1940, about 400,000 young Britons dived head-first onto the beaches of Dunkirk, ready to repel German troops from the French coast. Almost 80 years later, the battle remains, for some, a keystone of British national pride, as well as a symbol of heroism to the new Tory generations. “We are a sovereignty, yet our economic and political decisions are made by Brussels. We must defend our constitution,” argues Jack Walters. For the second time in a century, the United Kingdom calls on its young troops. 

In the 2016 referendum, 27% of voters aged 18 to 24 voted in favour of Brexit, according to a Lord Ashcroft poll. Three years later, the victors of ‘Leave’ are still very polarising; the Liberals find them revolting, Brussels is discouraged by their whims, and political analysts take great pleasure in dissecting their behaviour. Everywhere, they are accused of chauvinism, their world views supposedly distorted by populism and their fear of the ‘other’. However, the feelings of these fringe young Conservatives do not at all correspond to this narrative. 

“For young people, Brexit isn’t a question of border control or immigration, as it can be for older generations. That was never our motivation,” explains History student and Brexit supporter Jack Logan. On the contrary, some even hope that the European break-up will encourage the British government to open up to the world. “The United Kingdom will have to regain its place on the international scene. We may even make new allies, for instance through trade,” claims Ed Carter. The UCL student and proud Conservative had first camped in the Remain clan, before coming to the conclusion that he would benefit more from a globally integrated United Kingdom than one confined to European regional borders. 

According to a Lord Ashcroft poll, 49% of those who voted for Brexit did so on the basis of “the principle that decisions about the United Kingdom should be made by the United Kingdom” — well ahead of border and immigration control, at 33%. 

In this little haven of the London underground, the atmosphere is one of assumed Conservatism. To the tune of the national anthem, Jack Walters can finally let his convictions run free, with no fear of being stigmatized. “Many young people are afraid to say they are Pro-Brexit, or even worse, that they are Conservative,” Jack says. “The stigma towards us is very strong and many even feel socially excluded by society.” The young man recalls the time a student spit “Toxic!” at his face, simply for stopping at the UCL Conservative Society stand at a club and societies fair. 

Aware of the prejudices that precede him, even the president of the Conservative Societies of London Universities, Sam Sherwood, admits not to mention his title when first meeting someone. “I'm afraid that by introducing myself as a Conservative, others' perceptions of me will change,” he confesses. Although these young Tories display radically more liberal positions than their predecessors, advocating among other things state intervention in social affairs, the old conservative spectre is not ready to let go of them. “I think if the left opened up a little more to us, they could respect us more and who knows, maybe even understand us,” says Jack Walters, who describes himself as economically conservative and  liberal on social matters. 

In the general election of 2017, 22% of voters aged 20 to 24 voted for the Conservative Party. By comparison, the left-wing Labour Party received 63% of the vote. If the “Nasty Party”, in Theresa May's infamous terms, still suffers from its unpopularity among British youth, its posterity is nevertheless assured – as long as there are young and proud Conservatives like Jack Walters, ready to dive head-first onto the deserted beaches of Dunkirk. 

This article was originally published at Léa’s home university, by Montreal Campus.

Pi Opinion content does not necessarily reflect the views of the editorial team, Pi Media society, Students’ Union UCL or University College London. We aim to publish opinions from across the student body - if you read anything you would like to respond to, get in touch via email.