the Conservative party

Question 1

What do Conservatives believe about human nature?

Answer 1

humans are competitive, but also disorderly and easily misled. They believe that strong and authoritarian order is needed to combat this, often as a hierarchy.

Question 2

What do Conservatives believe about Order?

Answer 2

Conservatives believe in the strict maintenance of order, stern punishments best deterrent against crime, security as first duty of government

Question 3

What do Conservatives believe about Tradition and Preservation?

Answer 3

Conservatives believe in the preservation of traditional institutions and values believed to have allowed the prosperity of society through the stability that they offer. They oppose radicalism and dismantling of institutions.

Question 4

what did G.K Chesterton call tradition?

Answer 4

the “democracy of the dead” allowing the wisdom of previous generations to be involved in society

Question 5

What do Conservatives believe about One Nation and Organic Society?

Answer 5

the reduction in social divisions, through those at he top having a responsibility to care for the interests of those at the bottom

Question 6

What do Conservatives believe about Pragmatism?

Answer 6

belief in smaller change to prevent radical change.

Question 7

What do Conservatives believe about Property?

Answer 7

Traditionally defend the interests of the land-owning gentry but has now evolved to protect the interests of private owners of land, housing etc. as these give people a stake in society.

Question 8

What were Thatcherite economic policies?

Answer 8

• 1989 reduced top rate of tax to 40%
• restricted union power and their power to strike *championed the free market and privatisation to encourage wealth creation (communications of BT, energy, transport).

Question 9

What were Thatcherite welfare policies?

Answer 9

• 1983: £1.1bn proposed to build new hospitals *privatisation of certain aspects of health service to reduce health budget
• cutting in benefits to reduce ‘dependency culture’
• 1980 Housing Act introduced the right to buy council houses.

Question 10

What were Thatcherite law and order policies?

Answer 10

• Section 28 banned the teaching of homosexuality in schools
• proposals for an independent Crown Prosecution Service in 1983 led to the erosion of liberty
• 10 new prisons in 1983.

Question 11

What were Thatcherite foreign policies?

Answer 11

• Remain members of the EEC as it was the largest free market in the world
• Falklands War of 1982 due to conflict over British land
• limited the ‘overly generous’ foreign aid budget.

Question 12

What were David Cameron’s economic policies?

Answer 12

• Austerity measures to cut public service funds
• introduced tax-free minimum wage,
• maintained low top rate of income tax.

Question 13

What were David Cameron’s welfare policies?

Answer 13

• 2010 - Austerity measures cutting expenditure on public services,
• privatisation of NHS elements to increase competition *introduction of job centres and jobseekers’ allowances.

Question 14

What were David Cameron’s law and order policies?

Answer 14

• 2013 Same-Sex Marriage Act
• toughen criminal sentences
• scrap the Human Rights Act
• develop the roles of elected police and crime commissioners

Question 15

What were David Cameron’s foreign policies?

Answer 15

• Maintain Trident nuclear weapons system,
• aimed to use regular air strikes on Syria,
• 2015 renegotiated UK membership of the EU, putting this to a referendum in 2016.

Question 16

What were Theresa May’s economic and welfare policies?

Answer 16

Economic: worker representation on company boards, 17% rate of corporation tax, keeping taxes as low as is feasible.
Welfare: 2017 dementia tax proposed, new rights in the workplace.

Question 17

What are Boris Johnson’s economic and welfare policies?

Answer 17

Economic: Tax cuts for small businesses, reduction in business rates, ‘sensible’ regulation of business, low corporation tax.
Welfare: 50,000 more nurses over 5 years, 40 new hospitals, re-establish the nurses’ bursary, 20,000 new police officers.

Question 18

What are Boris Johnson’s law and order policies?

Answer 18

• Recruit 20,000 more police officers,
• create 10,000 new prison places,
• life sentences for child murderers,
• points-based immigration system,
• Coronavirus Act has suspended many civil liberties.

Question 19

What are Boris Johnson’s foreign policies?

Answer 19

• Leave the EU on the 31st December,
• aim to negotiate a Brexit Deal,
• expand the number of free trading agreements with non- EU countries,
• ‘Global Britain’ policies.

Question 20

What is the Tory Reform Group and what are their beliefs? members of this?

Answer 20

The Tory Reform Group faction leaning towards the centre of the party. Supports social cohesion, social equality and equal rights, although not economic equality. Its notable members are Ken Clarke, Robert Buckland and John Major.

Question 21

What is Cornerstone and what are their beliefs? members of this?

Answer 21

Cornerstone is a faction with a much more right-wing, traditional viewpoint on policy. It opposes reform to social values such as gay marriage and abortion, believing in the UK as a Christian country. Staunchly nationalist. Members include Priti Patel, Jacob Rees-Mogg, Sajid Javid and Kwasi Kwarteng.

Question 22

What is Conservative Way Forward and what are their beliefs? members of this?

Answer 22

Conservative Way Forward is a neo-liberal faction, supporting free markets and enterprise with low taxation and a deregulated economy. Opposed to union power and excessive welfare. Members include Liam Fox, William Hague, Sajid Javid and Margaret Thatcher.

Question 23

What is the Northern Research Group and what are its beliefs? members of this group?

Answer 23

The Northern Research Group is a group aiming to pressurise the government into providing greater economic support to Northern Tory Constituencies in light of coronavirus restrictions. Members include Jake Berry, Esther McVey and David Davis.

Question 24

What is the European Research Group and what are its beliefs? Who are prominent members of this group?

Answer 24

The ERG is a group concerned of further EU integration by the UK. Supported a hard Brexit, forced a vote of no confidence in Theresa May, accused of acting as a party within a party. Notable members include Micheal Gove, Priti Patel, Mark Francois and Sajid Javid.