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Conservative party 1997 - 2007 - Coggle Diagram
Conservative party 1997 - 2007
William Hague, 1997-2001
Had limited political experience believing he could represent a fresh start.
He won as he had fewer enmities than his rivals (John Redwood, Peter Lilley, Ken Clarke etc) and bc he was Thatcher's preferred choice.
The party was more eurosceptic than it had been previously.
1999, previously a Thatcherite, Peter Lilley gave a speech criticising some elements of Thatcherism warning the public were cautious of previous Thatcher economic policies.
The public were cautious pf further privatisation, evidenced by Major's inability to privatise the Post Office.
Lilley's speech caused backlash and Hague had to reiterate his support for Thatcher.
Divisions of what the Conservative party needed to change intensified.
Hague failed to make progress in the opinion polls + Hague resigned after the 2001 crushing defeat.
Mocked for his political specs as a teenager and for boasting about drinking 14 pints a day as a teen.
Iain Duncan Smith, 2001-03
Under Smith the party remained socially conservative - voting against the real of Section 28 and aginst allowing unmarried couples to adopt. Divisions over modernisation.
Supported Britain's entry into the Iraq war - highly criticised by some
Aggresively Eurosceptic and reopened the divisions over Europe.
After speculation aout the salary he payed his wife to act as his secretary Smith face a vote of no confidence.
Won leadership election due to naive voting against Clarke and Portillo.
Smith had little charisma, so remained behind in the opinion polls against Blair.
Compassionate conservatism: he visited a deprived estate in Glasgow, which convinced him to do more to tackle poverty.
Michael Howard, 2003-05
Howard struggled to compete with Blair in the opinion polls.
Much of the work smith did on social justice was abandoned and the Conservatives remained distrusted on areas such as health and education.
He was seen as unifying figure, having support from both Mods and Rockers - bringing stability to the party,
Despite, being on te right of the party and socially conservative, Howard promoted modernisers in his cabinet.
He made it clear that his preference was for his successor to be a moderniser.
Manifesto: tough on immigration, law & order, tax cuts - seemed outdated and linked with previous conservative Govs.
David Cameron, 2005 - 2016
The party aimed to no loner be hostile to ethnic minorities, any ppl, single mothers + young ppl.
Promised the Conservtaives would take the issue of climate change seriously - he cycled to Westminster
Cameron modernised and the Party undertsnaidng it was essential to make the party more tolerant and inclusive
He praised the NHS for caring for his disabled son + promised to protect it
2005 leadership contest, Cameron beat right-wing candidate David Davis, due to an impressive not-free speech at the Tory party conference.
Promised to maintain Labour levels of public spending - making the party more centrist.
Despite some criticism of the move away from Thatcherism such as Norman Tebbit, the party's more united the it had been for over a decade.
Reasos for divisions
The division became increasingly focused on te future of the Conservative party.
Many recognise the 1997 election was a turning point and that the Conservative party had to change to be electable again.
After the 1997 election defat, Major immediately resigned as Tory leader.