New Labour Era: Conservative divisions

Question 1

What divisions in the conservative party persisted after Major’s resignation?

Answer 1

• Divisions over Europe

- Future direction of the party

Question 2

Did William Hauge have experience and how did he win the leadership race?

Answer 2

• (36) Limited political experience

- Mainly won due having fewer rivals

Question 3

How did William Hauge Partially unify the party?

Answer 3

-ruling out adopting of single currency (Euro) for the foreseeable future

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Question 4

What 1999 speech proved controversial inside the conservative party?

Answer 4

-Criticism of thatcherite policies -Peter Lilley (Arch Thatcherite)

Question 5

What were the contents of Peter Liley’s speech?

Answer 5

• labour ‘97 victory -Public thought good at protecting public services
• Cons only preferred smaller state for ideological reasons, not because it would provide better public services

Question 6

What was the effect of Peter Lilley’s 1999 speech?

Answer 6

split party into those who believed the party needed change (mods)
and those who thought the party did not (Rocker)

Question 7

How in some ways was the conservative electoral defeat in 2001 worse than ‘97

Answer 7

-Cemented the fact that the conservative party had lost touch with the British people (97’ was not pot luck)

Question 8

What was Ian Duncan smith Like?

Answer 8

• Little Charisma –> Not match for Blair

- Aggressively Eurosceptic -> reignited Party Divisions

Question 9

What was Compassionate conservatism under Ian Duncan Smith ?

Answer 9

-Tackle poverty –> Visiting deprived areas ie in Glasgow

Question 10

How did the party remain socially conservative under Ian Duncan Smith?

Answer 10

• Voted against the repeal of section 28

- Voted against allowing unmarried couples to adopt

Question 11

Why was it difficult for Smith to criticise labour’s position on the Iraq war when it dragged on?

Answer 11

-Smith had supported Entry into Iraq

Question 12

What caused the Downfall of Ian Duncan Smith?

Answer 12

Scandal over wive’s salary as secretary–> Tarnished image.

=> Ousted from power

Question 13

How was Miachle Howard a step in the right direction?

Answer 13

• Unifying figure ( had Support from mods and rockers)
• Promised modernisers in his cabinet
• After 2005 defeat wanted successor to be moderate

Question 14

How did David Cameron modernise the conservative party?

Answer 14

highlighted key policy areas that were not traditionally conservative:
ie Gay rights, Climate change and Foreign aid.

Question 15

What was an advantage of Cameron modernising the Party?

Answer 15

-Party to reach out beyond it’s core support base

Question 16

What was a strength of Cameron’s?

Answer 16

Less difficult to attack and criticise -clean record

Question 17

What were the Reasons for electoral defeats in 2001 and 2005

Answer 17

• Hauge reverted to right wing policy- ie ‘fight to save the pound’
• -> appealing to core support base

Question 18

After 2005 how did the labour party seem less electable?

Answer 18

• Divisions between Blairites and Brownites

- Iraq War was dragging on

Question 19

How did Michael Howard move to the right?

Answer 19

-tough lines on immigration, tax cuts and a reduction to the public sector