Historically, the Conservative Party has been characterized by a respect for private property, individual liberty, and tradition, skepticism about change, and deference to aristocrats and the monarchy. There is absolutely no populism in its DNA. And yet, the current government is unabashedly populist; it cares about nothing except power and Brexit.
How did this happen? And how long can it last?
Brexit is the obvious answer to the first question. As to the second, you have to believe that the party’s essential character will reassert itself once Brexit is finished, as it must be at some point. There is just no way that Jacob Rees-Mogg, who is such a stereotypical upper class twit that he should be a fictional character played by John Cleese, can be part of a populist government for very long. It just wouldn’t make sense.