2.2 Established political parties: conservatives Flashcards
the tories
17th century 2 groups emerging
- whigs - supporting parliament
- tories - supporting monarchy
industrial growth
whigs vs tories in industry: which did each group support
- industrial growth challenged authority of aristocracy
- ## new emerging middle classes supported whigs, aristocracy favouring tories
industrial growth
what did ‘conservative’ begin to mean
- toreis were resistant to new political structures and reform
the conservatives
Robert Peel: who was he ? what was the tamworth manifesto?
- briefly PM in 1834
- lost power as the party split over the corn law reforms
- 1834: Tamworth manifesto, Robert Peel began to transform the tories into something resembling the conservative party
the conservatives
by the 1860s? What was the conservaties main objective?
- Benjamin DIsraeli was helping to shape the party
- main objective was to prevent inequality, preserve unity, preserve order.
the conservatives
two main traditions
- ‘one nation conservativism’
- ‘new right conservativism (developing in the 1980s)
traditional values
what was the influence on american and french revolutions on Edmund Burke and traditional values? What did conservatives worry?
- reaction against these revolutions
- Edmund Burke became alarmed at ideas of freedom of the individual, tolerance of different political/religous beliefs, and a laissez-faire attitude
- conservatives worried a free society with limited control would lead to social disorder.
Edmund Burke
thinking
- ‘good order is the foundation of all good things’
- new ideas of liberty, equality, democracy were creating a disordered society
- conservatives were suspicious of new ideas that threatend order
Human nature
conservatives view on human nature and individual freedoms
- pragmatic view of human nature: conservatives stress the competitive nature of people over being sympathetic and caring
- conservatives also believe we need security and order over individual freedoms
- they see us as individuals who want to pursue individual goals
traditions
traditions: examples
- the church
- the monarchy
- traditional marriage
- religion
traditions
Burke’s view on tradition
- helped provide continuity between the past and the present
traditions
‘British values’?
- love for democracy
- tolerance
- respect for individual liberties
traditions
Burkes work title
- Reflections on the Revolution in France 1790
traditions
Thomas Hobbes view on human nature
- negative
- insisted if there wasn’t a strong government, anarchy would ensue
one-nationism
What was Disraelis book
‘sybil’ 1845
- or The Two Nations
one-nationism
what was his idea put forward in Sybil
- the rich and the poor were two nations which would cause provlems if they got further apart
one-nationism
what do one-nations oppose?
- excessive inequality
- measures that promote inequality
one-nationism
govern with the interests of..?
- THE WHOLE NATION
- inclusivity
- economic prosperity
property
what do conservatives think about property?
- it needs protecting
- property ownership is a fundamental aspect of individualis,
pragmatism
pragmatism implies
+++ Michael Oakeshott
- ‘flexible approach’ to politics, incorporating an understanding of what will preserve society, but also what is best for them
- Michael Oakeshott said politics should be ‘a conversation not an argument’
new right
neoliberals
2 groups
- principle that buisinessmen and successors regulate the economy, so a free market with low taxation is important
new right
neoconservatives
2 groups
- more associated with traditional conservativism and authoritarianism
new right
how did the new right emerge?
- it was becoming increasingly obvious one-nationism wasn’t compatible with England, as the TUC was demanding more and more wages
new right
how was the term developd
- in the USA in the 1970s
- adopted by Thatcher in the 1970s/80s
new right
reaction against…?
- socialism
- spreading around Europe, Asia, South America
new right
founding thinkers
- Friedrich Hayek
- Irving Kristol
- Milton Friedman
new right
what does it mean
- less state intervention
- more powers to fight crime and disorder
- strong defence
neoliberalism
proposals
- reducing direct taxation
- privatisation
- reducing welfare benefits
- curbing power of unions
- laissez-faire attitude to economy
- excessive intervention creates a ‘dependency culture’
neoconservativism
proposals
- strong (but small) state
- maintaining authority and discipline
- socially conservative
- law and order are crucial
- suspicious of large supra-national associations (like the EU)
- nationalistic
groups within the conservative party
cornerstone
ideas + president/chairman?
- traditionalist leaning
- supports unitary governance of the british state
- president: Edward Leigh
- chairman: John Hayes
groups within the conservative party
conservative way forward group
ideas + chairman
- favours thatcher’s thinking
- adapting her methods for the current era
- chairman: Steven Baker
groups within the conservative party
Tory Reform Group
ideas + senior figures
- one nation conservativism
- supported by david cameron
- ‘modern, progressive conservativism…economic efficiency and social justice’
- senior figures: Michael Heseltine, Douglas Hurd, Ken Clarke, Chris Patten
current conservative ideas and policies
criticisms, Cameron, economics under cameron
- Criticisms against Thatcher meant Thereasa May said people labelled them the ‘nasty party’ (2002)
- Cameron was socially progressive, encouraging same-sex legislation, promoting ‘big society’ and encouraging young people to support their communities
- as a result of economic struggles: Cameron and Osborne cut spending
- They combibed one nation conservativism with thatcherite financial housekeeping
current conservative ideas and policies
Tory Manifesto 2024: key ideas
- defence
- strong on immigration (Rwanda)
- tougher sentences and new prisons
- net zero
- cuts to welfare and the civil service
- limiting migration
different conservative fractions
‘common sense group’
- struggles against progressive reforms such as BLM and Extinction Rebellion
- 136 page booklet exressing specific ideas on immigration, the legal system and family life
different conservative fractions
european research group
- hardline brexiters
- revolts from members within this group saw May limit brexit compromises, and eventually ejecting her from downing street
- many have movd on to more relevant pressure groups now
- but meant a decreasing number of one nation conservatives
modern day conservative policies
the economy (One-nation vs Thatcherite)
- One-Nation: under Johnson, in 2021 public spending was 42% of the economy.
- Thatcherite: Although, under Sunak there were huge cuts reminiscent of thatcherite economic polices
Modern day conservative policies
welfare (one-nation vs thatcherite)
- one-nation: ‘living wage’ under George Osborne in 2015
- 2021: Johnson established a new secretary of state for ‘levelling up’ housing and communities
- thatcherite: universal credit system is based on the more you earn, the fewer benefits you recieve, which suggests an anti-dependency approach
Modern day conservative policies
law and order (thatcherite)
- Investigatory Powers Act 2016: government enhanced powers of surveillance to protect national security
- appointments being critics of liberalism such as Priti Patel and Suella Braverman
Modern day conservative policies
foreign policy (Thatcherite)
- withdrawal of the EU
- 16.5b increase in UK defence spending under Sunak
- Defence alliance with Austrailia and the US (AUKUS) to counteract China
- protecting British interests, demonstrating the Uks continued military outreach, strong opposition to russia, criticising china.
Modern day conservative policies
conflict within the party
- outrage over Lizz Truss finance tax cuts
- Johnson and Sunak’s governemnts kept taxes high to maintain public services
- Suella Braverman incredibly socially conservative unlike David Cameron
