Political Parties 2.2 - Conservatism:

Conservatism

The Conservative party Factions:

Cornerstone:

Motto:

Beliefs & Background:

Supporters:

Faith,Flag,Family

Expresses traditional values

Comprised of tory MPs

Founded in 2005 by Edward Leigh & John Hayes

Stand for monarchy, traditional family/marriage

Pride in Britain

Non-state dependancy

Against political correctness

Jacob Rees-Mogg MP

Conservative Way Forward:

Founded in 1991 by Thatcher

Want to defend & build on achievements of Thatcher and adapt her values to Britain today

9 values including: Democracy, Capitalism, Nationhood and Deregulation

Tory Reform Group:

Promotes values of One Nation Conservatism

Established 1975

Pressure group closely related to Tory party

Seeks to ensure the tory party is run by the principles of one nationism

Advocates benefits of society founded on freedom, individual responsibility and community

Senior figures: Michael Heseltine, Ken Clarke - supported Cameron

Strands of conservatism:

One-nation conservatism:

Reaction from Disraeli (PM) as they were worried people would revolt against as socialism was on the rise in Europe

Key Principles:

Human Nature:

Pessimistic view - stress competitive nature

Humans liable to fall into disorder - easily lead

Crave order and security over individual freedom

Tradition:

Preservation of tradition = vital for public order

Very fact values & institutions have survived is testament to their quality - carry accumulated wisdom and should be respected

Tradition gives sense of continuity and security

Organic Society:

Concern of growing divide between classes

Strand supports measures that aim to reduce conflict between classes and oppose those that create too much inequality

Organic society - individuals are tied together by common sense of being members of an interdependant society

Pragmatism:

Oakeshott: politics should be "a conservation, not an argument" - meaning political action should not be as a result of political dogma and theory

Flexible approach to politics

Rejection of politics tied strongly by ideology

Property:

Right to own your own home and enjoy security is fundamental element of civilised society

New Right Conservatism (Thatcherism):

Thatcher influenced by Reagan

Both concerned by socialism - heightened by USSR

Felt trad cons were too weak on social & economic policies

Neo-Liberalism (economics) & Neo-Conservatism (social)

Neo-Liberalism:

laissez faire economies - let it be - state shouldn't interfere

Free-market & privatisation = good

TUs shouldn't be too powerful

'Dependancy culture' = bad

Taxes should be low - encourages hard work as businesses get to keep more

Neo-Conservatism:

Small, but strong state

Trad ideas on morality and lifestyles

Strong law and order - maintain security

V. patriotic

Dislike multi-national organisations (EU)

Recent changes to the Conservative party:

The Economy:

Balancing the budget - lowering the deficit under Cameron

Budgets of major departments cut by 25%

May - small increase in spending after austerity

Limit on corporate tax to encourage business

Free markets & trade have been staple in all Govs

Covid - gov had to be much more interventionist

Johnson's 2019 GE plans mostly got scrapped cus of Covid

Law & Order:

Tough on crime to deter - Patel - Rwanda

Sentencing should be in hands of elected gov, not unelected judges - law, muder of key workers gets life in prison

Opposes legalisation of drugs

Covid - restrictions on civil liberties

Welfare:

Tougher means testing introed by Cameron - benefits cap on families, no benefits on more than 2 kids - harder for people to claim

increase minimum wage to encourage people to work

protect education & NHS but allow private comps to influence

Covid-19 - furlough payments, increased benefit

Foreign policy:

Cameron & May follow Thatcher - strong links with US - failed slightly - May & Johnson = global Britain as result of Brexit

Johnson - strong response to Brexit and EU

UK should be independent in security - so Trident is needed

Increase of £16.5bn to defence spending - expected to rise since Ukraine