The Conservstice Party (1997-2007) Flashcards
How far did party developments during William Hagues leadership (1997-2001) bring the Conservative Party success?
Success:
Hague
-was youthful (36 in 97), made speech at conservative party conference at age of 16
-good debator, went to comprehensive school, highly intelligent
-thatcher approval, pushed party to ‘vote for William vague’ in leadership contest
-largely unified party on Europe issue by ruling out entry into single currency’ in ‘forceable future’ in party
-initially focused on being more socially inclusive in party (modernise party)
-some succes at priminister questions with speeches
-had few enemies initialy
Failures:
-was elected in a heat to find a leader in 1997, unconfidently. Heseltine didn’t enter ballot from illnesss, more progressive portillo lost his seat in election, was an eurosceptic , Kenneth Clarke was popular as chancellor and public demenure but overly europhilic= ‘anyone but Clarke’, major resighend immediately after loss, carried by thatcher
-had limited political experience
-not rid part of obsession with Europe and old fashioned style
-Peter Lilly speech forced hague to reiterate thatcher policy support and halt modernisation= fuelled divisions between ‘Mods’ and ‘rockers’
-poeple believed Labour to better manage public services in education and health
-conservatives publicly seen as too want small state role
-divisions grew after portillo won seat back in (1999) by election, who have then appointed to shadow cabinet (hatefully modernistic in party
-(1998)Ann widdecombe appointed to shadow cabinet who was eurosceptic and social conservative
-memories of ERM and high riding Labour economy made them seem irrelevant to providing economic growth
-1999 following European election succes, heavily advocate euroscepticism
-seen as naive : oppose section 28 repeal, suport for Tony Martin=labelled crude populist, endorsed jeffery archer , later acused of purgery
-was not politically ready for leadership at the time
-public appearance intended to be contemporary were mostly embarrassing (mocked for wearing baseball cap, and boast of drinking 14 pints a days as teenager)
-focused on more traditional conservative oolciys like law and order anti-immigration and Europe membership
-lost 2001 election devastatingly (lab gain 412) seats and then resigned
-Blair called election early (2001)
-thatcher suport restrained him from appearing re formative
How far did party developments during Ian Duncan smith leadership (1997-2001) bring the Conservative Party success?
Success…:
elected Democraticly in newly created party leadership race (61%-39%) against Kenneth Clarke
-popular with elderly (65+)and traditional conservatives
-an ex army officer
-attempt to introduce compassionate conservatism program: to tackle poverty & deprivation caused by economic policies
-‘easterhouse’ visits in glaglow strengthen his cause to tackle poverty
Failures:
-leadership election contest not very convincing: only won 1/3 support in parliamentary party, many supported pro European Kenneth Clarke and socially liberal Micheal Portillo , and avarice membership voting age was 64, who were eurosceptic
-voted against repeal of section 28 and against allowing unmarried couples adopt
-aggressively eurosceptic
-was an Maastricht rebel
-had supported Britain involvement in the Iraq war, so could not criticize Labour decisions and lost many votes to Lib Dem who benefited opposing it
-sleaze fested: speculation stirred on amount he paid his wife to act as his secretary
-2003, faces vote of no confidence which he lost by 90-70 votes
-public image as the ‘quit one’ was not attractive to public, and lacked charisma against Tony Blair (was not skilled to deal with Blair at prime minister questions)
-Theresa May ‘nasty party’speech (2002) highlight problems in party (sleaze, old fashioned image, europhilic, not modernised enough)
How far did party developments during Micheal Howard’s leadership (2003-05) bring the Conservative Party success?
Success:
-emerged as leader unchallenged (support from both ‘mods’ and ‘rockers’)
-brought party stability
-was MP since (1983) and a effective speaker
-promoted modernisers into the cabinet(after 2005, david Cameron’s appointed shadow education secretary and George Osborne shadow chancellor)
-tilted Blair at times in parliamentary debates such as towards access to wider university education (2003)
-gave Cameron (more liberal) time to establish himself before election leadership by delaying his resignation
Failures:
-leadership selection was undemocratic and a response to party’s embarrassment over IDS
-did not develop on Duncan smiths compassionate conservativesm
-was right wing, social conservative
-was unpopular home security in majors office and credited with late thatcher failures
-Blair outperformed him in debates, making him seem like an short term opportunist focused on 2005 election
-party continued to be divided on education and health policies
-his economic plans (public services maintained on low levels of expenditure ) were ineffective in gaining electrolytes trust
-had uninspiring “something of the night” image
-2005 ‘Victor Meldrew’ manifesto reinforced right wing position
-lost 2005 election
-lurch to the right was limited from the rise in UKIPs popularity (2.3% votes in [2005] election)
-(2004) European election success made him focus party more towards Europe = increase euroscepticism?
How far did party developments during david Camerons leadership (2005-2010) bring the Conservative Party success?
Success:
-Oxford educated
-(2005) won leadership contest convincingly following an impressive free bite speech
-fresh, socially liberal and modernising image , (39 when elected a leader and had disabled son)
-took more serious stance on climate change (visited the article circle)
-in favour of gay rights
-promised party would protect NHS when in power
-reduced discussion on Europe
-Cameron’s shadow chancellor, George Osborne set to maintain Labour level spending on public services
Failures:
-maintaining Labour level spending meant they could not promise tax cuts
-criticism from traditionalist conservatives (Norma Tebbit) for rejecting Thatcherism (was very minute)
-was ex-Etonian
-leadership election was not sweeeping: main competitors David David did support civil liberties and Cameron ‘saved’ by his conference speech
-wealthy background
-policy adviser to Norman Lamont(during black Wednesday period ) and then Micheal Howard in 1990s which attributed to bad memories of social strictness and economic decline?
