Classical liberalism was always opposed to the protectionist Toryism

Yeah, but that has no bearing on the current debate. Left/right is always going to be imprecise but I don't agree that it is useless. I have no problem with calling classical liberalism right wing. I am a liberal but I am not a libertarian so it is understandable that I react uneasily to attempts by the party I vote for to capture the libertarian wing of the Tory Party.