Formalised factions are commonly associated with socialist political parties. Marx viewed religion as the opiate of the masses. No wonder whoever dreamt up formalising factions for the Liberal Party is responsible for killing the broad church.

Many hate the idea of a broad church, but John Howard used it to reinvent Menzies’ party and to accommodate economic liberals and conservatives.

Paul Kelly has argued the failure to reinvent the broad church for contemporary politics is to blame for the Liberals’ demise.