The world is fragmenting. Whilst some great powers are responding to the challenges of the 21st century by turning inward, a geopolitical vacuum is emerging. In this new era, the question of who our true allies are, and what binds us together, is the central strategic question we face.
New polling from Opinium, conducted for the Conservative Friends of the Commonwealth, provides a resounding answer. The British public, and Conservative voters in particular, have a clear-eyed view of this new landscape. They know who our friends are, and that is what sets our party apart.
The public’s clarity on this issue is striking. Conservative voters view the Commonwealth as our strongest and most natural partner. 64% of 2024 Conservative voters see the Commonwealth as an ally, placing it ahead of both the United States (62%) and the European Union (55%). In an environment where predicting the behaviour of our traditional “special relationships” is becoming increasingly challenging, it is no surprise, and a massive 81% of our voters believe the UK and the Commonwealth have “things in common,” again, significantly higher than for the US (76%) or EU (73%).
This data is a clear retort to those who see the Commonwealth as a nostalgia project. It demonstrates a hard-headed, public recognition that our shared language history, common law, and cultural ties are a meaningful strategic asset in a dangerous world.
Importantly, the public isn’t just positive about the Commonwealth in the academic sense, they also understand why it matters. They see the biggest benefit of the UK’s Commonwealth relationship, as being “growing trade and the economy” (37% of all adults). Among Conservative voters, this sentiment is overwhelming, with over half (51%) seeing trade as the biggest benefit. The second-highest priority was “strengthening defence and security ties” (36% of Conservative voters).
Again, the data reinforces the point that people do not see a revitalised Commonwealth as simply an exercise in nostalgia. It is the most practical and powerful response to the emerging geopolitical challenges of the 21st century and is one of our greatest opportunities for future prosperity and our security.
There is, however, a gap between public ambition and perceived reality. Conservatives see the potential, but aren’t convinced that we are capitalising on it. 68% of Conservative voters believe the UK could play a leading role in the Commonwealth, but those same voters are split right down the middle (40% vs. 40%) on whether Britain is “making the most of this relationship” today.
This is our reason d’etre. The public, our members, and our voters want us to be more ambitious, and see the potential in the Commonwealth that we are proud to promote. They too see the strategic vacuum, and the opportunity for trade and security. They want us to grasp it, and Conservative voters want us to translate their support into action.
To make this vision a reality, we need your support. Join the Conservative Commonwealth Group today and help us make the case in Parliament and across the country.