There have been many eloquent and cogent refutations of the supposed justifications for the British state's irresponsibility toward Begum and the injustice and cruelty which it has displayed in this case. I do not intend to repeat them here. Instead, I intend to ask the question: are the government's actions in this case compatible with the fundamental principles of Conservatism. The writer of this blog is not a Conservative. However, if one is interested in ascertaining whether this government's actions have anything to do with its professed principles, this question is pertinent.
First, the refusal to bring Begum to justice undermines the rule of law. For the economist and political philosopher Friedrich Hayek, an extremely influential theorist for many Conservatives, a regime of 'ordered liberty' depends more on rhe rule of law than on the existence of democracy.
Second, Begum's potential to engage in terrorist activity threatens the security of the British state. For most Conservatives, even those of a libertarian persuasion who would like to strip the State of most of its functions, defence against external or internal enemies remains as the defining purpose of the State.
Third, Begum, before she made her disastrous decision to leave Britain, was a citizen of this country rather than a citizen of the world (to adopt Theresa May's distinction). She had never visited Bangladesh, of which she was also a citizen. However much one objects to May's sentiments, they point to an important principle which is fundamental to a certain type of Conservatism. Begum was rooted in her locality and her country: therefore, there was no good Conservative reason to deprive her of her nationality.
Fourth, and most important, a fundamental principle of Conservatism is its insistence on the radical imperfections of human beings. It asserts that these imperfections fatally undermine any utopian attempts at radical social engineering. This principle seems to accept that this imperfection is a feature of our common humanity, as no human beings, whatever their nationality, religion or ethnic origin, are exempt from fundamental flaws and defects. Begum's route to terrorism stemmed from demonstrable human weakness: her gullibility. Do her defects, so widespread as to be almost universal human characteristics, justify her being deprived of her citizenship and her being denied access to justice ?