The Conservative Party: History, Ideology, and Factions

This lesson provides a detailed analysis of the Conservative Party — the oldest political party in the UK and one of the most successful electoral machines in democratic history. Understanding Conservative ideology and its internal factions is essential for A-Level Politics.

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Historical Overview

The Conservative Party traces its origins to the Tory Party of the 17th century. Key historical phases include:

Period	Key Features
19th century	Disraeli's "One Nation" conservatism; extending the franchise; British imperialism
Interwar period	Dominance of Baldwin and Chamberlain; appeasement
Post-war consensus (1945–79)	Acceptance of the welfare state, mixed economy, and Keynesian economics
Thatcher era (1979–90)	Free-market economics, privatisation, trade union reform, euroscepticism
Major to Cameron (1990–2016)	Internal divisions over Europe; modernisation under Cameron; austerity
Brexit era (2016–present)	Johnson's populist conservatism; Truss's brief leadership; Sunak's pragmatic approach; 2024 election defeat

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Core Conservative Values

Value	Explanation
Tradition	Respect for established institutions and gradual change rather than revolution
Pragmatism	Practical, flexible approach to politics rather than rigid ideology
Organic society	Society is a living organism; institutions (family, church, community) hold it together
Hierarchy and authority	A natural social order exists; strong leadership is necessary
Property and free enterprise	Private property is the foundation of liberty; the free market creates prosperity
Law and order	A strong state is needed to maintain order and protect citizens
Scepticism of human nature	Humans are imperfect; institutions and law are needed to restrain behaviour

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Key Factions Within the Conservative Party

One Nation Conservatism

• Originated with Benjamin Disraeli in the 19th century
• Emphasises social cohesion, paternalism, and the duty of the privileged to care for the less fortunate
• Accepts the welfare state and a role for government in managing the economy
• Associated with Harold Macmillan, Edward Heath, and later David Cameron's "compassionate conservatism"
• Supports moderate, centrist policies and social liberalism

Thatcherism (New Right)

• Named after Margaret Thatcher (PM 1979–90)
• Combines economic liberalism (free markets, privatisation, deregulation, low taxes) with social conservatism (traditional values, strong defence, law and order)
• Key policies included privatisation of nationalised industries (British Telecom, British Gas, utilities), reduction of trade union power (Employment Acts, defeat of the miners' strike 1984–85), and the poll tax
• Thatcher famously said "there is no such thing as society" — emphasising individual responsibility
• Intellectually influenced by Friedrich Hayek and Milton Friedman

The European Research Group (ERG) and Right-Wing Populism