The Conservative Party

The world’s oldest political party/belief (1740s).
Has shown itself to be flexible and pragmatic, adapting to changing times. E.g. acceptance of the Great Reform Act (1832).
Regard themselves as the natural party of government.
1900-2000: Conservatives in power for 66 years.
Broadest of all political parties: extreme left (One Nation, almost Labour) – extreme right (narrow nationalists, racists). They stick together for power.

Origins

1790s: French Revolution. Edmund Burke wrote ‘Reflections on the Revolution in France’, the most effective denunciation of the revolution. He outlined principles that formed the bedrock of Conservatism:

Man is not rational (instinct is to be selfish and greedy- a pessimistic view).
People are imperfect and require discipline.
People crave order and security.
The way to achieve order and security is through:

Continuity
Hierarchy (know your place)
Encouraging respect for established institutions.

If change is essential it should be minimal.
Encouraging ownership of property- brings stability and responsibility.

Burke’s political ideas are more Tory than Conservative. In 1800 Britain had the Industrial Revolution, causing population growth and dramatic change. Robert Peel adapted Burke’s Toryism for a Conservative Party. Peel made the Tamworth Manifesto (1834), the 2 key points were:

To allow moderate reform where there is a proven case- “Reform that you may preserve.”
To maintain Tory values in the face of change.

Between 1830 and 1870, the Conservative Party emerged.

Benjamin Disraeli and One Nation Conservatism

Disraeli was the most important figure in Conservatism from 1845-1878. He was a successful popular novelist.
One of his books, ‘Sybil’ was subtitled ‘The Two Nations’ (rich and poor). He feared class division and wondered how to maintain a stable and hierarchical society while at the same time making sure that the poor are content with their lot.
The franchise was steadily expanding (e.g. to the working class).
Disraeli feared the expansion of the middle class and thought that the aristocracy were the natural governing class.
He developed One Nation Conservatism, ...

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Benjamin Disraeli and One Nation Conservatism

Disraeli was the most important figure in Conservatism from 1845-1878. He was a successful popular novelist.
One of his books, ‘Sybil’ was subtitled ‘The Two Nations’ (rich and poor). He feared class division and wondered how to maintain a stable and hierarchical society while at the same time making sure that the poor are content with their lot.
The franchise was steadily expanding (e.g. to the working class).
Disraeli feared the expansion of the middle class and thought that the aristocracy were the natural governing class.
He developed One Nation Conservatism, which believes in a hierarchical society and that:

The privileged have obligations to the poor.
Paternalist policies (e.g. 1875 Public Health Act).

1945-1950s- Conservatives were keen to accept PWC and the welfare state. O.N. Conservatism dominated the party until around 1970.

Conservatism and the collectivist state

1870s onwards- governments accept the principle that they are obliged to act in a collective way to solve social problems, e.g. clean water, education, sewage etc.
Conservatism is generally hostile to state interference; it is a difficult issue for them. How can Conservatism reconcile itself to high levels of state involvement?
Michael Oakeshott said if state intervention is about abstract principles (e.g. equality) then Conservatives will oppose it. However, state intervention based on concrete principle (e.g. better health care) is supported by Conservatives.

One Nation Conservatism 1945-1975

Harold Macmillan- the most obvious O.N. Conservative, and saw the need for high levels of state intervention.
The post-1945 prime ministers (Churchill, Eden, Macmillan and Douglas-Home) were all very O.N., all supported NHS, nationalisation and the pursuit of full employment.

The rise of the New Right/ Neo Liberalism/ Thatcherism

Not all Conservatives accepted O.N. principles, e.g. Enoch Powell. Some who did not accept it were:

Conservative Imperialists- wanted the British Empire back, nationalists who were hostile to joining the EEC.
Neo Liberals- Keith Joseph, Peter Thorneycroft, rejected O.N. tradition, wanted a free market and minimal state intervention.

1951-1964- Conservatives in power (O.N.), successful in 4 elections.
1966-1974- Conservatives lost 3 out of 4 elections (1966, 1974 x 2).
1957- Conservatives replaced Heath with Thatcher because:

Heath was unsuccessful.
Heath took Britain into the EU.

What is Thatcherism/ Neo Liberalism?

2 key intellectual influences:

Friedrich von Hayek wrote ‘The Road to Serfdom’, which converted Thatcher. His argument was:

The states only duties are maintenance of internal law and order, and external protection.
Anything beyond this would result in a reduction of individual freedom.
In the USA (where he lived) the welfare state was developing.

Milton Friedman was a professor of economics at the University of Chicago and won the Nobel Prize for economics. He concluded that the primary cause for inflation was the over-production of money.

Thatcher’s solution was to limit the amount of money in circulation (monetarism). The consequence of this in the short-term was to cause unemployment. By 1982, unemployment had risen to 3.8 million.

Since 1975 the Conservative Party has been divided between the Neo Liberals and O.N.

Characteristics of Neo Liberalism

Economic freedom. They believe in the free market. Thatcher famously said “You can’t buck the market.”
Minimal state. A basic suspicion towards state intervention, but at the same time a belief in a strong state (police, armed forces etc.)
Anti welfare. Principally they place a strong emphasis on the individual and are against welfare.
Anti trade union. Trade unions tend to give too much power to workers and are a distortion of the market.
Traditional moral values. This is particularly true of Thatcherism. The 1988 Local Government Act- Section 28 bans the promotion of homosexuality in school.
Limited but powerful state. Only one public service did well during Thatcherism- the police force.
Nationalistic. For example the Falklands War, anti Europe and E.U.

Majorism?

Thatcher was dumped by the Conservatives despite her success. Michael Heseltime originally challenged Thatcher, but Major won (November 2000). Thatcher announced, “I am a very good back seat driver.”
Major attempted to establish a separate political identity from Thatcher. His style of Conservatism was much more collegial (with colleagues) e.g. with David Mellor and Chris Patten.
In most areas related to economy, Major continued with Thatcherite policies, e.g. privatisation (British Rail, coal, water), control of inflation, control of public spending. Relations with the E.U became worse (BSE crisis- ban on British beef worldwide).
Major Government made one serious attempt at establishing their own identity- the ‘Back to Basics’ initiative, a return to traditional methods of government (more so traditional morality) but this failed due to sleaze.
Overall, Majorism is an adjunct of Thatcherism.

William Hague

Suffered a devastating defeat in 1997, the worst since 1832. brought down by:

Economic incompetence.
Reputation tarnished by sleaze.
Hague was in Thatcher’s shadow and was paying the price for success.

The dilemma is whether the party should continue to be N.L. or whether it should reject Thatcherism and develop new policies. One of the problems is that the Conservative Parliamentary Party is very small- only 166 people. Approximately 95 would regard themselves as N.L., less than 20 would be O.N. Hague was elected in 1997 as the heir to Thatcher. He defeated Ken Clarke who was very O.N. Hague knew that the party had to modernise its structure and its policies and image. It had to appeal to youth and minority groups. Hague went to the Notting Hill Carnival wearing a baseball cap.

Iain Duncan Smith

The 2001 election was almost a mirror image of 1997. Hague resigned. In the 3rd round of the ballot it was Clarke vs. IDS (N.L. heir to Thatcher). Portillo was eliminated in round 2. IDS is traditional in his views- Catholic, army officer, public school. IDS’s shadow cabinet only has one actual O.N. Conservative- Damian Green. David Willets and Michael Howard are very N.L.