The Conservative Party between 1997-2007 Flashcards
How many Tory leaders were there during this time period?
4
Who were the Tory leaders?
William Hague
Iain Duncan-Smith
Michael Howard
David Cameron
What was the party split between during this time period?
Party split between those in favour of reform [The Mods] and those against reform [The Rockers].
What was the key ideological difference which tore the Tories apart?
The issue with the EU.
Background of William Hague?
He was an MP for Richmond, he was known for his Eurosceptic views and for his skills as a debater
William Hague political ideology = ?
-Eurosceptic
-Tried to bring in socially inclusive policies however after 1999 he focused on the Conservative core vote.
-To the right of the Tory party
Why was William Hague elected leader?
-36 year-old thus it was believed he could be a breath of fresh air.
-Thatcher stated “Vote for William Hague if you want the same type of government that I did”.
What issues did Hague face?
-Divided party and he failed to unite it. Faced the 2001 election and failed to put up a fight as Labour won a big majority again.
-Party split between those in favour of reform [The Mods] and those against reform [The Rockers].
How long did Hague last?
4 years.
1997 - 2001
Iain Duncan Smith Background = ?
Scottish, from a socially conservative background and ideology.
Iain Duncan Smith political ideology = ?
He was a social conservative, whilst he was right wing he also wished to promote socially inclusive policies such as a reformed social welfare system.
Eurosceptic and an aggressive one at that so he reopened the divisions within his own party over Europe during his leadership.
Why was Iain Duncan Smith elected?
He won in the 2001 leadership election due to negative voting against Clarke and Portillo.
What issues did Iain Duncan Smith face?
He supported Blair and his invasion into Iraq
He had to deal with the issue of the EU in his party and with the divisions between the mods and the rockers.
How long did Iain Duncan smith last?
2 years
2001 - 2003
Michael Howard background?
Experienced and able politician but had become something of a hate figure as an extremely unpopular home secretary in the 1990s.
Michael Howard political ideology?
He abandoned many of the social justice work that Iain Duncan Smith had done during his tenure
Why was Michael Howard elected as Tory leader?
Experienced and Able politician who was good at debating Tony Blair in the house of commons.
Seen as a unifying leader between those who were mods and those who were rockers.
What issues did Michael Howard face?
The key election of 2005 when Labour were at their weakest due to the Iraq War, he still lost the election as Labour went on to win 3 elections in a row.
He promoted modernisers in his shadow cabinet. After the election defeat of 2005 he promoted David Cameron as shadow education secretary, George Osbourne shadow chancellor.
How long did Michael Howard last?
2 years
2003 - 2005
David Cameron background?
Former Etonian and educated at oxford university, he was a moderniser and was person that former leader Michael Howard wanted to be his successor
David Cameron political ideology?
-Centre right
-Moderniser however he apparently had posters of Thatcher on his bedroom wall at Eton.
-Similar to Blair on leadership and social matters
-Pro-gay marriage.
Why was David Cameron elected leader?
Michael Howard favoured him to be his successor as he was a moderniser and he was also pretty popular within the party.
What issues did David Cameron face?
2008 financial crisis.
Iraq war fallout and the discovery of no weapons of mass destruction.
Blair resignation and the promotion of Gordon Brown as PM and leader of Labour.
How long did David Cameron last?
11 years
2005-2016
Divisions within the Conservative Party?
-The failures of leadership
-The issue of Thatcher
-Europe
-Social liberalism
-Failures to learn lessons from electoral defeats
-The resistance to reform and change for the better
How many seats did the Tories win in 2001?
165
How many seats did the Tories win in 2005?
198
Percentage of vote for the Tories in 2001?
31.7%
Percentage of vote for the Tories in 2005?
32.4%
Why was it embarrassing that the conservatives lost the 2005 election?
Labour were at their weakest and incredibly unpopular over the war in Iraq and the more obvious divisions between the Blairites and the Brownites.
Why did the electorate not think Hague had a chance in 2001?
Hague found it difficult to be taken serious especially his attempts to look and appear ordinary. He was mocked for wearing a baseball cap, for appearing at the Notting Hill carnival and for boasting about drinking 14 pints a day as a teenager.
What former Tory leader back Hague?
Margaret Thatcher
What was Thatcher’s involvement in The Hague campaign in 2001?
She appeared at an election rally, her involvement was to attract conservative activists and to sure up the Tory right wing vote.
