The Conservative Party Flashcards
One-nation vs Thatcherism
One-nation:
> Pragmatic approach
> Small and gradual changes
> Looking after the needs of society
> Mixed economy
Thatcherism
> Assertive and dogmatic
> Radical change
> Individual needs
> Free-market economy
One-nation conservatism principles
> Strong law and order to control society
> The preservation of tradition
> An organic society with rich and poor bound to each other
> The theory of noblesse oblige
> Pragmatic, rather than ideological, responses to issues
> Faith in property and home ownership as a means to creating an ordered society
Principal ideas of neo-liberalism
> The state should disengage from political management
> Markets should not be regulated by the state
> Trade unions hinder economic development, making everyone poorer
> Welfare benefits are detrimental and produce a dependency culture
> High taxation is a disincentive to work and productivity
Key principles of neo-conservatism
> Belief in the promotion and advancement of traditional moral values to ensure a stable society
> A requirement of strong forces of law and order in an authoritarian state to impose social morality
> Nationalism, believing that national pride and unification are the best way to maintain a stable society
> Distrust of multinational organisations, like the EU or UN, believing that the pursuit of the national interest should always take priority
Current Conservative policies - Economic management
Right tendency:
> Support for free trade and deregulation pf business; lowering of taxation on all with trade agreements negotiated on a bi-lateral basis.
Centre-right tendency:
> The economy should be managed to ensure society does not become divided, with support for furlough and lower rates of taxation for the poorest.
Current Conservative policies - Social justice
Right tendency:
> Support for a traditional, Christian-centred society based on individual value and clear hierarchies and social structures.
Centre-right tendency:
> Ensuring the provision of a safety-net during the Covid-19 crisis and a desire to ‘level-up’ society and the idea of social mobility.
> Support for more progressive ideas, such as gay marriage.
Current Conservative policies - Industry
Right tendency:
> Extensive privatisation of all areas.
> Decrease union protections.
> Limited government intervention.
Centre-right tendency:
> Government investment in infrastructure, like HS2 and new airports to facilitate private industry.
> Financial support for struggling businesses to avoid economic hardship.
> Acceptance of some necessary state services that can work with the private sector.
Current Conservative policies - Welfare
Right tendency:
> Seeks to reduce, if not end, welfare provisions, including proposals to privatise part of the NHS.
> More stringent tests of welfare recipients.
Centre-right tendency:
> Support for the NHS as part of the national identity.
> The need for welfare provision, but with a purpose to encourage people into work for social stability.
Current Conservative policies - Law and order
Right tendency:
> Support for strong law and order to ensure that society operates in a traditional, well-ordered way.
Centre-right tendency:
> Support for law and order, but also for individual freedoms and liberties and not be imposed in a draconian way.
Current Conservative policies - Foreign policy
Right tendency:
> Focus on British nationalism, opposed to membership of supranational organisations like the EU.
> Support for a strong and independent military capacity.
Centre-right tendency:
> Favours international co-operation to facilitate free trade and to intervene in foreign disputes that may not directly impact on British interests, such as international aid and peace keeping services as part of supranational organisations.
Current Conservative policies - Environment
Right tendency:
> Opposition to environmental policies that may hinder businesses.
> At the extreme end, may be climate change deniers.
Centre-right tendency:
> Support for environmental initiatives and a focus on reducing the UK’s carbon footprint.
Current Conservative policies - Constitutional reform
Right tendency:
> Opposition to progressive reforms of the New Labour era.
> Support for traditional systems and laws, including the monarchy, the House of Lords and the abolition of the Human Rights Act.
Centre-right tendency:
> Seeks to ‘fix’ problems left over from previous reforms, rather than removing those reforms. Fixing what exists in small ways, such as EVEL in devolution, rather than major reforms.
Conservative Party factions - Cornerstone
Core ideas:
> Traditional values: Christian, nationalist and focused on family values.
> Reactionary, opposed to social reforms such as same-sex marriage and legal abortion.
Key members:
> Edward Leigh
> Jacob Rees-Mogg
Conservative Party factions - Conservative Way Forward
Core ideas:
> Thatcherite, neo-liberal.
> Retention of free-markets through low taxation and deregulation.
> Opposed to trade union power and welfare provision.
Key members:
> Gerald Howarth
> Liam Fox
Conservative Party factions - Tory Reform Group
Core ideas:
> One-nation conservative, seeking national unity and believing that too much economic inequality is divisive.
Key members:
> Ken Clarke (now in Lords)
