Conservative party - Established Political Parties (2.2) - Political Parties - UK Politics Flashcards
Origins of the Conservative Party
Tory party of late 17th Century. Aristocratic group that first came together in defence of the historic privileges of the Crown and the Church of England as powerful landowning institutions.
Sir Robert Peel & the Conservative party
PM 1834-5 & 1841-46. The party evolved into a party dedicated to the defence of property & traditional authority against the threat of revolution.
One nation
A paternalistic approach adopted by Conservatives under the leadership of Benjamin Disraeli in the 19th century and continued by David Cameron and Theresa May in the 21st century, that the rich have an obligation to help the poor.
Benjamin Disraeli
PM 1868 & 1874-1880. Associated with One-nation.
Benjamin Disraeli & one-nation conservatism
Mentioned in his book Sybil. Philosophy that sought to bridge the gap between the classes (created by industrial capitalism) through a paternalistic social policy (rich would help poor in return for the right to rule).
Post-war conservative (WWII)
Party accepted Labour reforms of a mixed economy, welfare state, government action to maintain high level of employment. (one-nation). Pragmatic, non-ideological approach.
noblesse oblige
the duty of upper classes to take responsibility for the welfare of the lower classes
New right
An approach that combined the thinking of neo-conservatives who wanted the state to take a more authoritarian approach to morality and law and order and the thinking of neo-liberals who endorsed the free market and the rolling back of the state in people’s lives and businesses
Thatcherism linked intellectually with
the rise of a school of thought called New right
Thatcherism vs one nation
Thatcherism rejected the instinct of one-ntion conservatives to seek compromise
Thatcherism (x7)
Preference for individual over state
Rolling back of state and doing less in social terms
Preference for free-market & open competition - e.g. privatisation in order to promote improvement and wider consumer choice due to competition & control of public spending, combined with tax cuts to provide incentives for business leaders & to stimulate economic growth
Preference for strong law & order - e.g. criminal justice acts increasing sentences for offences & increased police & judicial powers
Anti-trade union - e.g. statutes restricting trade union power
Opposed to integration of EU & having strong nationalistic character - e.g. where Thatcher warned against the United States of Europe in a Bruges speech
Assertion of British interests abroad, in relation to the challenges posed by the Soviet Union (and other threats)
What did William Hague, Iain Duncan Smith & Michael Howard all fail to do
Distance themselves sufficiently from Thatcherism which was now identified with a discredited past.
When did David Cameron become leader of Conservative party
2005
Cameron identified as a
liberal conservative
Cameron’s positive portrayal examples
Showed an interest in the environment, demonstrated that he valued public services such as the NHS, stood on the side of the ordinary not just the well-off elite.
Big Society
David Cameron’s platform that envisions a society that is energised by grassroots volunteers and private organisations, no longer harassed by “big governments”. Co-operation between the state and the voluntary sector
Tensions in the coalition 2010
Reform of the voting system
Upgrading of Britain’s nuclear weapons
Cameron’s economic policy
Aimed to reduce budget deficit inherited from Labour
Introduced a programme of public spending cuts (‘austerity’) to maintain the confidence of the financial markets and prevent Britain’s borrowing cost from rising
Whitehall department budgets cut by up to 25% (not health, schools or international aid)
austerity measures
When a government severely cuts spending to try and get its finances under control
Cameron’s welfare policy
Coalition wanted to cut costs and encourage those receiving benefits to be more self-reliant.
Osborne distinguished between hard-working strivers and underserving shirkers.
Universal credit system merges a number of ‘in-work’ benefits in one payment intended to simplify the welfare system and encourage low-income people to take up employment
Coalition implicated a radical overhaul of the NHS allowing the private sector to compete with state hospitals.
Osborne distinguished between (welfare policy under Cameron)
hard-working strivers and underserving shirkers.
Universal Credit system (welfare policy under Cameron)
merges a number of ‘in-work’ benefits in one payment intended to simplify the welfare system and encourage low-income people to take up employment
Coalition’s overhaul of the NHS (welfare policy under Cameron)
allowed the private sector to compete with state hospitals.
What did the coalition government 2010 want to do with those on benefits (welfare policy under Cameron)
Make them more self-reliant by cutting costs
Cameron’s law & order policies
Liberal attitude in opposition
Tough sentencing for certain crimes (especially post London riots 2011)
Promoted rehabilitation revolution to reduce reoffending
Payment by results scheme
Resembled Blair’s insistence that government must be ‘tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime’
Cameron’s attitude to law & order when in opposition
Liberal. Called for more understanding if young offenders - ‘hug a hoodie’ speech
What encouraged Cameron’s want for tough punishment for certain crimes (law and order under Cameron)
August 2011 London Riots
Rehabilitation revolution intended to (law and order under Cameron)
reduce reoffending & prepare prisoners for real life
Payment by results scheme (law and order under Cameron)
Coalition government rewarded private firms and charities that helped criminals in their rehabilitation
Tony Blair’s quote on crime that Cameron’s policies followed (law and order under Cameron)
Tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime
Cameron’s foreign policies
Consistent with Thatcherism in most respects
Ways in which Cameron’s foreign policies were similar to those of Thatcher’s
Strong links with USA
Support for air strikes against Islamic terrorist groups in Syria & Iraq
Pragmatic eurosceptism
Was pro-EU (campaigned for the remain side in Brexit)
Conservative party has abandoned Thatcherism
ejected Thatcherite individualism -
Compassionate view of society to create social inclusion - relaxing attitudes to those less fortunate in society
Move towards one-nation stressing the duty of the haves to help the have-nots
More understanding & tolerative view of alternative lifestyles
Willingness to accept constitutional change and make further change
Thatcherite policies reduced as a product of the compromise of coalition government and sharing power with the Lib Dems
Example of rejected Thatcherite individualism (ways in which Conservative party has abandoned Thatcherism)
Drive for more inclusive society - rejects ideas such as ‘there is no such thing as society’
Example of more compassionate view of society (ways in which Conservative party has abandoned Thatcherism)
‘Hug a hoodie’
Example of more understanding & tolerative view of alternative lifestyles (ways in which Conservative party has abandoned Thatcherism)
Accepting same sex unions & support for minorities
Conservative party has NOT abandoned Thatcherism
Firm belief in free-market solutions to solve economic problems
Anti trade-union & favouring business community
Lack of moral concern or compassion as government cuts back on public services & certain benefits
Willingness to tax better off lightly as possible
