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Is small-state conservatism ready for a comeback? episode artwork

Feb 11, 2026 26 min

Is small-state conservatism ready for a comeback?

from The Capitalist Hosted by CapX

When the Conservative Party last entered government, in coalition with the Liberal Democrats, the UK was still finding its feet after the global financial crisis. What followed was a succession of events that quickly came to dominate political life: Brexit, the pandemic, and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Each of these moments demanded large, costly interventions from the state. But Britain now faces a new set of challenges: an ageing population, a fresh industrial revolution driven by AI, growing global security risks, and the pressures of a changing climate. John Penrose is the founder of the Centre for Small Conservatives. A former Conservative MP, he joins Marc Sidwell to discuss why he’s arguing for moving beyond rhetoric and towards serious, practical policy ideas — ones he believes can deliver tangible results in the real world. Guest: John Penrose, former MP and founder of the Centre for Small State Conservatives Stay informed with CapX's unmissable daily briefings from the heart of Westminster. Go to capx.co to subscribe. Get full access to The CapX Briefing at briefing.capx.co/subscribe

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Is small-state conservatism ready for a comeback?

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