The Conservtive Party 1997-2007 Flashcards
What problems did the conservatives still face when john major resigned
Division over Europe and the wound of thatchers fall was still unhealed with bitter recrimination to those who have betrayed Maggie.
What kind of people did the Conservative party consist of
Majority were Thatcherites and eurosceptics. One estimated that 145 of the remaining 165 conservatives were eurosceptics.
Who replaced major
William Hague
Why were other MPs not successful in the leadership
Micheal heseltine - suffering with ill health and decided not to run
Ken clarke- successful as chancellor of the exchequer with his professed love for jazz, cigs and whiskey- seen as down to earth but h was pro European and one of thatchers cabinet members who advised her to resign.
Micheal portillo - lost his seat
Tell me about William Hague 1997- 2001
36 years old- limited political experience.
Won because he had fewer enemies than rivals and he was thatchers preferred choice. “Vote for William Hague to follow the same government as I did”
Unified the part on Europe by ruling out entry into the single currency.
How was the Conservative party viewed whilst tony Blair was PM
Uncaring, intolerant and old fashioned, obsessed with Europe.
What was the new divide in the Conservative party
Where did this come from ?
Those who thought the party needed to change - mods
Those who resisted - rockers.
Came from peter lilleys speech which criticised thatchers economics of privatisation. Hague had to reiterate his support for thatcher.
When did Hague resign ?
Who replaced him
Who were he most popular for leadership ?
2001 after another crushing defeat.
Replaced by Ian Duncan smith (2001-2003)
Kenneth Clarke and Michael Portillo
What was the new rules to become leader ?
MPs would vote in a succession of ballots until two candidates remained. The vote would then go to party membership
How was Ian Duncan smith as leader
Little charisma and no match for tony Blair.
Made some efforts to introduce compassionate conservatism by visiting the deprived Easter house estates in Glasgow convinced him that the party had to do more to tackle poverty.
Eurosceptics and reopened the division over Europe.
Supported the British entry to the Iraq war. This was stupid as it made it difficult for the conservatives to criticise labour.
What did the conservatives vote against which angered mods
Section 28- against allowing unmarried couples to adopt.
Modernisers such as David Cameron and George Osborne reduces to follow the party line.
Why was Ian Duncan smith removed as leader
Through a vote of no confidence after speculations about the salary he paid to his wife for being secretary.
Who replaced Ian Duncan smith ?
What was he like as leader
Michael Howard 2003-2005
- ad support from both mods and rockers. One mp said “many of us who hate everything Howard says will back him because we are tired of being embarrassed “
Struggled to compete with Blair.
Conservatives remained distrusted on on key areas such as health and education.
Brought stability to the party.
Promoted modernisation
Who became leader in 2007
At the leader contests David Cameron defeated Davis David due to an impressive free note speech at the Conservative party conference.
What was Cameron about as leader ?
Detoxifying and modernising the Conservative party.
Make the party more tolerant and inclusive no longer hostile to all kinds of social groups including ethnic minorities, gay people, single mothers and young people.
He promised the conservatives would take the issues of climate change seriously.
In favour of gay rights.
Promised protection of the NHS
Who was Cameron’s shadow chancellor
George Osborne - who promised to maintain labours levels of spending on public services ruling out tax cuts.
Who remained sceptical of the conservatives shift
Some such as Norman Tebbit were critical as a rejection of Thatcherism.
What maybe some of the key reason for electoral failures in 2001
- failures of leadership
- division over thatcher and Europe
- the failures to learn lessons from electoral feats
- resistance to reform
- Hague found it difficult to be taken seriously - especially in his attempts to appear ordinary.
- thatcher undermined Hague’s leader ship
What maybe some of the key reason for electoral failures in 2005
- Howard was on the right of the party - associated with thatcher and major and believe therefore didn’t believe the party had changed
- people saw the manifesto as a grumpy old man comparing about the state of modern Britain
- more support for UKIP
