The Conservative party Flashcards
(31 cards)
Who, originally, were the Conservative party?
An aristocratic group who came together to defend the right of landowners in England - they have their origins in the Anglican faith of the Church of England
What are the strands of Conservatism?
Traditional - aristocratic group protecting the rights of poorer landowners; religion, and monarchism
One nation - seeks to bridge the gap through a paternalistic strategy
The new right - taxes cut on business to help them in terms of production to boost the economy, reduce funding of trade unions to limit their powers
Who was Sir Robert Peel?
Prime Minister 1834-35 and 1841-46
The party began to evolve from…
the Tories, as a party that would defend landowner’s rights, but also protect against liberal revolution.
Gradual reform was…
preferred, in order to ‘conservatively’ protect long standing British institutions, such as the Church and the Crown.
In the late 19th to 20th century the party was remarkably…
successful at gaining and retaining support not only from landed gentry but also from the burgeoning middle class.
Who is associated with one nation Conservatism?
Benjamin Disraeli - PM in 1868 and also 1874-80.
Explain ‘Sybil’
- Disraeli’s book on the idea of one nation conservatism
- Discusses the growing chasm between the rich and poor within society, produced by the industrial revolution and rise of capitalism
Explain the idea of ‘the true leaders’.
- The policy hinges on the idea of an unwritten agreement between those who lead the state and those who work for it
- Those true leaders who lead will do so in the best interests of the followers, as long as they obey the laws put in place
The idea of ‘the true leaders’ worked in a Britain that was underpinned by…
Empire and nationalistic rule - WWII smashed the political landscape
What type of conservatism was Thatcherism?
The New Right.
What did Thatcher seek to do in relation to the economy?
- To reduce state intervention in the economy
- To control the trade unions and their influence over industry
- This policy was a move away from one nation conservatism
How did Thatcher view public spending?
- It had to be controlled, so that tax cuts to provide incentive for business leaders to stimulate economic growth
- E.g., Amstrad computers - created by Alan Sugar
Explain privatisation of industry?
- Services and industry are privatised
- To produce competition in industry
- Nationalised industry = state funded - funded by government - therefore, more taxes
- Private industry = no longer state funding - cut taxes - industry goes into the hands of private companies
What were the legal limits on trade unions by Thatcher?
- Put in place to deter trade union activism
- Capping industry wages
- Closing down certain industries
What was Thatcher’s approach to law and order?
- Increase policing powers
What are examples of British force going abroad to deter external threats, during the Thatcher government?
- Falklands
- Asserting dominance on global stage to deter communism
How did Thatcher desire to protect British sovereignty against the growth of the European community?
- Thatcher was a believer in the British currency, and British law
What happened to the Conservative party straight after Thatcher’s resignation?
- The party struggled to define its identity in her wake
- The party was still split on the question of Europe stemming from the Thatcher times
How did John Major continue Thatcherism?
- Continued with privatisation - coal and railways
How did John Major compare with Thathcer?
He was less confrontational in terms of style
What was one of the main problems the conservatives were facing in the 1990s?
- Europe
- Major was a moderate pro-European
- He sought to reconcile with the conflicting factions within the party
What was the Maastricht Treaty?
- Treaty for further European integration
- Signed 7th February 1992
- Streamlined Britain into the European Union
- Britain kept the pound
What did Eurosceptics in the Conservative Party think about Maastricht?
- Adamantly agains the idea of Britain further being integrated into the EU
- Particularly against the European Communities Bill - which ratified the joining of Austria, Finland and Sweden
