Conservative party (the United Kingdom)

The British Conservative party is the principal party of right-hand side to the the United Kingdom.

Origins at 1979

He is the heir to the Tories which were one of the two parliamentary groups as from the 17th century. Considered close to the Stuart dynasty, they were favorable to a royal capacity extremely and defended the interests of the land aristocracy. Inspiring the mistrust of the House of Hanover, which suspectait them of collusion with the preceding dynasty, the kings of the 18th century preferred to them the Whigs .

To the 19th century, the progressive extension of the vote led the Whigs like the Tories to be organized in political parties. The parliamentary group tory gathered its local associations, creating the Conservative party. It was shown rather protectionist, being opposed to the free-trade of the Liberal party (resulting from the Whigs ). However, part of the conservatives favorable to free trade, made scission under the control of Robert Peel. At the end of the 19th century, Benjamin Disraeli was made the cantor of a " torism populaire" worried by the social question. The Conservative party is characterized then by its defense from the Church Anglican E (according to a saying of the time, the Church Anglican, it is the Conservative party joined together in prayer ), his reserve to grant autonomy to the Ireland.

At the 20th century, the conservative party became clearly free-trader, widening his electoral base beyond the land aristocracy, in direction of the middle-class, the small holders and the mediums of businesses. It belonged to a coalition of National union of 1915 to 1922, then only controlled of 1922 to 1924 and 1924 to 1929. It formed a new coalition of National union, with the members of the Labor Party, between 1931 and 1945. It profited then from the prestige of Winston Churchill, hero of the nation vis-a-vis the threat Nazi. After the war, the Conservative party tried to be opposed to the introduction Social security. Winston Churchill saw in the État-providence the penetration of the socialist ideas, which he regarded as totalitarian and opposites with the freedom of company, essential value of the British model. These arguments did not convainquirent the electorate which sanctioned it with the elections of 1945. The Conservative party returned to the capacity of 1951 to 1964, then of 1970 with 1974, with a program much more moderate. A compromise on the Welfare state and the need for cooperating with the trade unions is established between the two great parties. If Edward Heath, Prime Minister between 1970 and 1974, managed to insert the United Kingdom in the European Community, the country showed an economic delay on its rivals (the France and the FRG). The economic crisis which developed accompanied by a political crisis. In 1974, the grêve general impetus in the mining sector paralyzed the country. Edward Heath required the arbitration of the voters by dissolving the Room. At the end of two polls, it is a Labor majority which emerged and the conservatives turned over in the opposition. This episode caused a deep traumatism within the Conservative party which hardens its political line in the direction of a liberalism more affirmed, denouncing the absolute power which would characterize the trade unions. This was at the origin of the election of Margaret Thatcher to the head of the party.

1979-2005: Rise and fall of the conservative party

In 1975, Margaret Thatcher took the reins of the conservative party and made him take a turn on the right. Néolibérale economically and socially, preserving on the security questions, Atlantic and partisane of Europe of the nations, it conquered Downing Street in May 1979. Its Monetary policy restrictive, directly inspired by the ideas monetarists of the School of Chicago, made it possible the United Kingdom to contain inflation. It engaged in parallel a significant policy of reduction of the public expenditure and taxation, accompanied by an overall deregulation and a limitation by the capacity by the trade unions, which allowed the United Kingdom to join again with a high growth and better a competitiveness, but at a high reduced price: unemployment about 9 %, social strains, etc With the come to power of Ronald Reagan in 1980, Margaret Thatcher found invaluable allied who shared her design of the economy and the international relations. Outside, the Iron Lady had to face in 1982 the crisis of the Falklands, which it left victorious and who allowed him to gain one crushing majority with the Communes in 1983. In the European field, it expressed its hostility solved with any inclination of federal Europe and obtained in 1984 a reduction with the British contribution to the community budget. It is a rupture. Hitherto indeed, Tories had been the burning partisans of European construction in the United Kingdom, following the example Edward Heath, craftsman of its entry in the Common Market.

She was re-elected in 1987 with a slightly reduced majority, being explained by a profit of vote members of the Labor Party vis-a-vis alliance " Liberal-SDP" .

Margaret Thatcher was évincée head of the party in November 1990, mainly in connection with the European questions. It was replaced by its last Chancellor of the Exchequer, John Major. This one maintained Tories with the capacity until 1997 but he did not manage to stop the significant retreat recorded at the time of each election, although he succeeded in obtaining the record (14 million) number of voices to the general elections of 1992; no party succeeded has to exceed or equalize this record (in comparison, Tony Blair collected of them approximately 13,6 then 10,7 and 9,5 respectively in 1997,2001 and 2005). The British were wearied government which had directed them for 18 consecutive years and to this lassitude political scandals and a heavy internal division about the European Union were added.

In May 1997, Tony Blair, young person and fringant leader of the New Ploughing, caused an electoral tidal wave in favor of the members of the Labor Party. Tories leave bloodless and torn these elections: they became a party in scraps. The Conservative party is pulled about between its fringe Eurosceptic and its more European fraction (Chris Patten or Ken Clarke for example).

In 2001, the Labor victory was always also crushing, the conservatives gained some seats vis-a-vis the party of Tony Blair but lost some vis-a-vis the liberal-democrats. Moreover, this election knew an abstention record (close to 40 %) and the votes granted to Tories fell of almost 10 million in 1997 to 8 million in 2001.

In 2005, the Conservative party nibbled some seats (33) with the Communes at the time of the general elections, but remained in the opposition because of its incapacity to formulate a credible and moderate project able to attract with him the middle-classes. Tony Blair remained with the capacity while the Democratic Liberals (LibDem) tended to affirm themselves like the true opposition to the members of the Labor Party. Between 1997 and 2005, Tories éreintèrent three successive leaders: William Hague (June 1997 - 2001), Iain Duncan Smith (2001 - November 2003) then Michael Howard (November 2003 - December 2005). This last made it possible its party to gain about thirty seats in 2005, but this improvement of the representation of Tories to the Communes is certainly due more to the breathlessness of the Blair government that to the proposals very droitières of Tories.

Wishing to benefit from the fall of popularity of the government Blair, the new leader of the Conservative party, David Cameron, tries to renovate the image and of " of it; recentrer" its political line.

Short sociology of the Conservative party

The Conservative party counts in December 2005 nearly 250.000 members. It is present almost primarily in England and particularly in the rural areas. The reconquest of the big cities of the country, the Wales and the Scotland where it does not count that only one deputy constitutes a challenge for his leaders. The preserving militants are mainly white and old men. To attract young people, women and representatives of the ethnic minorities consequently also seems a priority for the direction tory . The young person nomination David Cameron at his head the December 6th 2005 can constitute the beginning of the reconquest tory of the country.

Political platform of the conservatives

Economically, the Conservative party is liberal: partisan of limited public expenditure, a reduced taxation, a rigorous monetary policy and trading positions free-traders. It is George Osborne (34 years) which is Shadow Chancellor off the Exchequer of the tories in December 2005. Very near to David Cameron, there makes figure of moderate within the Conservative party and considers, in the event of return to the capacity, a rise in the public expenditure to improve public services (education, NHS, police force, transport), this rise having to remain lower than the growth of the GDP, contrary than the policy followed since 2001 by the members of the Labor Party.

Socially, the Conservative party remains fundamentally hostile with the trade unions and the regulations blocking the free enterprise and the dynamism of the job market. But, there too, an evolution seems to be done day with the arrival with the orders of David Cameron, concerned of the policy of assistance to the handicapped people, the support and child welfare for the families. David Cameron is also very attentive with the educational questions. Old representing Shadow cabinet for education, he announced on December 7th, 2005 his intention to support the projects of the worker government aiming at reforming secondary education by granting more autonomy and means to the schools. Lastly, the Conservatives are in favor of a policy to fight against the muscular insecurity, passing above all by the reinforcement of manpower of the police force and the granting of new means to the police force. Socially, the Tories are finally " conservatives compatissants".

On the main road questions of security, the Conservatives line up obstinately in the camp of the United States. In 2003, they supported the intervention of the Coalition in Iraq. David Cameron, in the wake of his predecessors since Sir Winston Churchill, would take care without any doubt to maintain a solid “special relationship” between London and Washington, as its will testifies some to bring its party closer to the American Republicans. Moreover, the Conservatives are in favor of a solid defense. Great Britain is the first European military power and the Tories intend well to make so that it remains it, especially since the terrorist attacks of the last July 7th against London. William Hague, spokesperson of the party for the foreign affairs and Liam Fox, its counterpart for the questions of defense, are the Atlantic ones convinced and holding of a strong defense for the United Kingdom.

Lastly, Europe is a central subject in the United Kingdom and within the Tories . European cleavage transcends traditional political cleavages. The Tories do not escape from it, even if a tendency has become apparent for a few years around the design gaullienne from Europe from the fatherlands, vast economic deprived of real political powers and respectful market of the diversity of the Nations composing it. David Cameron is itself Eurosceptic: he announced right now his intention to withdraw the European deputies tories group of the EPP (Popular party European), with the Parlement of Strasbourg, considered to be too federalistic and Christian-Democrat.

The Prime Ministers tories , then preserving

Topicality

Its last leader is David Cameron (elected the December 6th 2005).

External bond

Site of the party

Simple: Conservative Party (the U.K.)

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