Conservative Party
Leader	Michael Howard
Founded	1830
Headquarters	25 Victoria Street London, SW1H 0DL
Political Ideology	Conservatism
International Affiliation	International Democrat Union
European Affiliation	European Democrats
European Parliament Group	EPP-ED
Colours	Blue
Website	www.conservatives.com
See also	Politics of the U.K. Political parties Elections Michael Howard The Right Honourable Michael Howard, QC (born Michael Hecht, July 7, 1941) is a British politician, the Leader of the Opposition Conservative Party (although stepping down soon). ... 1830 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... The clock tower of the Palace of Westminster, which contains Big Ben London is the capital city of the United Kingdom and of England. ... For an overview of Conservatism in the United States, see Conservatism in North America. ... The International Democrat Union is an international grouping of conservative and, in some cases, Christian democratic parties. ... EPP-ED logo The European Peoples Party - European Democrats is a group in the European Parliament. ... EPP-ED logo The European Peoples Party (Christian Democrats) and European Democrats is a group in the European Parliament. ... For other uses, see Blue (disambiguation) Blue is one of the three primary additive colors; blue light has the shortest wavelength range (about 420-490 nanometres) of the three primary colors. ... The politics of the United Kingdom are based upon a unitary state and a constitutional monarchy. ... Political parties in the United Kingdom lists political parties in the United Kingdom. ... The United Kingdom has five distinct types of elections: general, local, regional, European and mayoral. ...

The Conservative Party is the largest political party on the centre-right in the United Kingdom. It is descended from the Tory Party and its members are still commonly referred to as Tories. It is a member of the International Democrat Union worldwide, and the European Democrats on the European level. In the European Parliament, its MEPs sit in the EPP-ED group. Its current leader is Michael Howard, who as Leader of the Opposition heads the Shadow Cabinet. Although Howard has formally resigned, he remains caretaker until his successor is appointed. The Elections and Parties Series Democracy Representative democracy History of democracy Referenda Liberal democracy Representation Voting Voting systems Ideology Elections Elections by country Elections by calendar Electoral systems Politics Politics by country Political campaigns Political science Political philosophy Related topics Political parties Parties by country Parties by name Parties by... In politics, the term centre-right is commonly used to describe and denote political parties or organisations that are moderately right-wing. ... The term Tory applied to the Tory Party, the ancestor of the modern UK Conservative Party. ... The International Democrat Union is an international grouping of conservative and, in some cases, Christian democratic parties. ... EPP-ED logo The European Peoples Party - European Democrats is a group in the European Parliament. ... The European Parliament is the parliamentary body of the European Union (EU), directly elected by EU citizens once every five years. ... EPP-ED logo The European Peoples Party (Christian Democrats) and European Democrats is a group in the European Parliament. ... Michael Howard The Right Honourable Michael Howard, QC (born Michael Hecht, July 7, 1941) is a British politician, the Leader of the Opposition Conservative Party (although stepping down soon). ... The Leader of the Opposition in the United Kingdom is the politician who leads Her Majestys Loyal Opposition (the body in Parliament recognized as the Official Opposition). ... The current Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet is listed below. ...

The Conservatives were the governing party in the United Kingdom on many occasions from 1834 until 1997. Since losing the 1997 election to the Labour Party under Tony Blair, they have been in opposition. 1834 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... 1997 is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The UK general election, 1997 was held on 1 May 1997. ... The Labour Party is the principal centrist/centre-left political party in the United Kingdom (see British politics). ... The Right Honourable Anthony Charles Lynton Blair (born 6 May 1953 in Edinburgh, Scotland) is the current Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, First Lord of the Treasury and Minister for the Civil Service. ...

Conservative Party today

The current Leader, Michael Howard

Since 1922, only the Conservative Party and Labour Party have been in government and official opposition. Since 1997, the Conservative Party has been in opposition to the Labour Party, led by Tony Blair. Although there are nine political parties represented in the House of Commons, three dominate the house. As of 7 May 2005, Labour holds a 66 member majority in the house with 356 Members of Parliament. The Conservatives come in second with 198 Members of Parliament and the Liberal Democrats follow with 62 Members of Parliament. This image is used with permission courtesey of the Conservative Party - see Wikipedia:Pictures from conservatives. ... This image is used with permission courtesey of the Conservative Party - see Wikipedia:Pictures from conservatives. ... Michael Howard The Right Honourable Michael Howard, QC (born Michael Hecht, July 7, 1941) is a British politician, the Leader of the Opposition Conservative Party (although stepping down soon). ... The House of Commons is a component of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also includes the Sovereign and the House of Lords. ... May 7 is the 127th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (128th in leap years). ... A Member of Parliament, or MP, is a representative elected by the voters of an electoral district to a parliament; in the Westminster system, specifically to the lower house. ... The Liberal Democrats, often shortened to Lib Dems, are a social liberal political party based in the United Kingdom. ...

Conservative leaders since 1997 have faced difficulties in returning the party to being a serious contender for government. Major's successor, William Hague, resigned after a second landslide defeat in 2001. Iain Duncan Smith, the leader after 2001, was deposed in a vote of no confidence in 2003, to be followed by Michael Howard. Howard reduced the Labour majority at the 2005 general election but the day after the poll announced that he would resign "sooner rather than later", citing his age as the principal reason for his resignation. The party had only marginally increased its share of the vote to 32.3%. 1997 is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... William Hague The Right Honourable William Jefferson Hague (born March 26, 1961) is a British politician and former leader of the Conservative Party. ... 2001: A Space Odyssey. ... Iain Duncan Smith The Right Honourable George Iain Duncan Smith (born April 9, 1954) is a British politician. ... 2001: A Space Odyssey. ... 2003(MMIII) is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Michael Howard The Right Honourable Michael Howard, QC (born Michael Hecht, July 7, 1941) is a British politician, the Leader of the Opposition Conservative Party (although stepping down soon). ... The United Kingdom general election of 2005 was held on Thursday, 5 May 2005 and won by the Labour Party, led by Tony Blair. ...

The Party's current formal name, registered with the UK Electoral Commission but rarely used outside Scotland and Northern Ireland, is The Conservative and Unionist Party. The formal name is a vestige from the 1912 merger with the Liberal Unionist Party, and an echo of the party's defence (1886-1921) of the Union of Great Britain and Ireland and subsequent insistence on British sovereignty in Northern Ireland in opposition to Irish nationalist and republican aspirations. The electoral symbol of the Conservative party is a hand holding a torch. Royal motto: Nemo me impune lacessit (Latin: No one provokes me with impunity) (Scots: Wha daur meddle wi me) Scotlands location within the UK Languages with Official Status1 English Gaelic Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow First Minister Jack McConnell Area - Total - % water Ranked 2nd UK 78,782 km² 1. ... Royal motto: Quis separabit (Latin: Who will separate?) Northern Irelands location within the UK Official languages English, Irish, Ulster Scots Capital and largest city Belfast First Minister Office suspended Area  - Total Ranked 4th 13,843 km² Population  - Total (2001)  - Density Ranked 4th 1,685,267 122/km² NUTS 1... 1912 is a leap year starting on Monday. ... The Liberal Unionists were a British political party which split away from the Liberals in 1886, and had effectively merged with the Conservatives by the turn of the century, the formal merger being completed in 1912. ... The Union Flag, in its modern form, was first adopted in 1801. ... Royal motto: Quis separabit (Latin: Who will separate?) Northern Irelands location within the UK Official languages English, Irish, Ulster Scots Capital and largest city Belfast First Minister Office suspended Area  - Total Ranked 4th 13,843 km² Population  - Total (2001)  - Density Ranked 4th 1,685,267 122/km² NUTS 1...

Policies

Conservative Party policies are generally supportive of reduced government intervention in the economic sphere (e.g. through tax cuts and privatisations) and increased government intervention in the social or cultural sphere (e.g. through the 'defence' of the traditional family and through restrictions on immigration). Privatization (sometimes privatisation, denationalization, or — especially in India — disinvestment) is the process of transferring property, from public ownership to private ownership. ...

They are also noted for their Eurosceptic stance. Many commentators believe that their post-1997 failure in UK politics is partly the result of continued internal tension between Europhiles (such as Kenneth Clarke and Michael Heseltine) and Eurosceptics (such as John Redwood and William Hague). However, the Conservative party have in recent years come to terms with these issues, and even the archetypal pro-European, Kenneth Clarke, has reluctantly accepted the party line on Europe. Euroscepticism is scepticism about, or disagreement with, the purposes of the European Union, sometimes coupled with a wish to preserve national sovereignty. ... This article is about Kenneth Clarke, the British politician. ... Michael Heseltine walks out of the cabinet meeting having resigned, January 9, 1986 The Right Honourable Michael Ray Dibdin Heseltine, Baron Heseltine, CH, PC (born March 21, 1933), is a British Conservative politician and businessman. ... John Redwood The Right Honourable Dr John Alan Redwood (born June 15, 1951 in Dover, Kent) is a British Conservative Party politician, Member of Parliament for Wokingham and Shadow Secretary of State for Deregulation in the Shadow Cabinet. ... William Hague The Right Honourable William Jefferson Hague (born March 26, 1961) is a British politician and former leader of the Conservative Party. ...

Conservatives are also generally opposed to devolution to the regions of the UK, prefering a unitary centralised state. They opposed the succesful devolutions to Wales, Scotland and London in 1999, as well as the unsuccesful devolution of power in the North of England in 2004. Devolution or home rule is the granting of powers from central government to government at regional or local level. ... National motto: Cymru am byth (Welsh: Wales for ever) Waless location within the UK Official languages English, Welsh Capital Cardiff Largest city Cardiff First Minister Rhodri Morgan Area  - Total Ranked 3rd UK 20,779 km² Population  - Total (2001)  - Density Ranked 3rd UK 2,903,085 140/km² Ethnicity: 97. ... Royal motto: Nemo me impune lacessit (Latin: No one provokes me with impunity) (Scots: Wha daur meddle wi me) Scotlands location within the UK Languages with Official Status1 English Gaelic Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow First Minister Jack McConnell Area - Total - % water Ranked 2nd UK 78,782 km² 1. ... The clock tower of the Palace of Westminster, which contains Big Ben London is the capital city of the United Kingdom and of England. ...

Conservative image

Economic competence

During much of the twentieth century the Conservative Party was considered the "natural party of government", a position founded upon the party's reputation for pragmatism and economic competence. The contrast with Labour's perceived poor twentieth century record remained strong, even as the Conservative governments of the 1980s presided over mass unemployment (peaking at 11% in 1986) on a scale which had not been seen since the 1930s. The party's economic reputation was however dealt a fatal blow by the 1992 Black Wednesday debacle, in which billions of pounds were wasted trying to keep the pound within the European ERM system of exchange rates at an overvalued rate. Coming on the heels of the recession of the early 1990s, this laid the groundwork for Tony Blair and Gordon Brown to claim from the Conservatives the mantle of economic competence. Many on both the left and right have since argued that New Labour's embrace of market forces and public sector modernisation amounted to little more than stealing the Conservative Party's economic clothes, and this has irked many Conservatives. As a result of the dominance of the Labour Party in debates over economic policy, recent Conservative election campaigns have focused much more on social or cultural issues such as crime, immigration and asylum. The party has even felt it necessary to commit to matching Labour spending plans - a reverse of the situation in 1997. // Events and trends The 1980s marked an abrupt shift towards more conservative lifestyles after the momentous cultural revolutions which took place in the 1960s and 1970s and the definition of the AIDS virus in 1981. ... Dorothea Langes Migrant Mother depicts destitute pea pickers in California during the Great Depression. ... 1986 is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... // Events and trends The 1930s were spent struggling for a solution to the global depression. ... 1992 was a leap year starting on Wednesday. ... In British politics and economics, Black Wednesday (or White Wednesday in euro-sceptic parlance) refers to September 16, 1992 when the government was forced to withdraw the Pound from the European Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM) by currency speculators—most notably George Soros who earned over USD$1 billion in doing... The European exchange rate mechanism (or ERM) was a system introduced by the European Community in March 1979, as part of the European Monetary System (EMS), to reduce exchange-rate variability and achieve monetary stability in Europe, in preparation for Economic and Monetary Union and the introduction of a single... // Events and trends The 1990s are generally classified as having moved slightly away from the more conservative 1980s, but otherwise retaining the same mindset. ... The Right Honourable Anthony Charles Lynton Blair (born 6 May 1953 in Edinburgh, Scotland) is the current Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, First Lord of the Treasury and Minister for the Civil Service. ... This article is about the British Chancellor of the Exchequer. ... In politics, left-wing, political left, leftism, or simply the left, are terms which refer (with no particular precision) to the segment of the political spectrum typically associated with any of several strains of socialism, social democracy, or liberalism (especially in the American sense of the word), or with opposition... In politics, right-wing, the political right, or simply the right, are terms which refer, with no particular precision, to the segment of the political spectrum in opposition to left-wing politics. ... New Labour is an alternative name of the British political Labour Party. ... The Labour Party is the principal centrist/centre-left political party in the United Kingdom (see British politics). ... Power lines leading to a trash dump hover just overhead in El Carpio, a Nicaraguan refugee camp in Costa Rica A refugee is a person seeking asylum in a foreign country in order to escape persecution. ...

Social policy

The Conservative Party has historically been associated with social conservatism, views which have often been reflected in the party's social policies. One of the more infamous example of Conservative social conservatism was Section 28 of the Local Government Act 1988, which outlawed "the teaching in any maintained school of the acceptability of homosexuality as a pretended family relationship". This highly controversial piece of legislation was regarded by many as homophobic, and is seen to have driven many liberal-minded individuals away from the party (most notably former Conservative MP Shaun Woodward, who defected to Labour in 1999 after William Hague sacked him from the shadow cabinet for refusing to support Section 28 in a parliamentary vote). Social conservatism is a belief in traditional morality and social mores and the desire to preserve these in present day society, often through civil law or regulation. ... 1988 Sir Ian McKellen with Michael Cashman at the Gay Rights March on Manchester in protest of Section 28. ... The United Kingdom Local Government Act of 1988 was famous for introducing the controversial Section 28 into law. ... Since its coining, the term homosexuality has acquired multiple meanings. ... Shaun Anthony Woodward (born October 26, 1958, Bristol) is an British politician, and Labour member of Parliament for St Helens South. ... William Hague The Right Honourable William Jefferson Hague (born March 26, 1961) is a British politician and former leader of the Conservative Party. ...

Many Conservative modernisers have claimed that the intolerant and authoritarian nature of past Conservative social policies have played a major part in the decline of the party in the 1990s and 2000s. For example, David Willets has criticised what he termed "the war on single parents", whilst former Conservative Party Chairman Brian Mawhinney observed that the party had "created the impression that if you weren't in a traditional nuclear family, then we weren't interested in you". Categories: Stub | 1956 births | British MPs ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... The Right Honourable Sir Brian Mawhinney (July 26, 1940) is a British politician, a former member of the Cabinet and member of Parliament for North West Cambridgeshire. ...

Since 1997, a debate has therefore raged within the party between modernisers such as Michael Portillo, who believe that the Conservatives should change their social views in line with 21st century Britain, and traditionalists such as William Hague and David Davis, who argue that the party should stick to its traditional conservative social agenda. The Conservative Party grassroots (predominantly white and elderly) have pushed in the latter direction, helping the right wing of the party win many of these political battles. This famously resulted in William Hague's and Michael Howard's pre-election swings to the right (in 2001 and 2005, respectively), and the election of the stop-Ken Clarke candidate Iain Duncan Smith in 2001. Theresa May famously remarked that the result of all this was that the Conservatives were perceived as "the nasty party". Michael Portillo The Rt. ... William Hague The Right Honourable William Jefferson Hague (born March 26, 1961) is a British politician and former leader of the Conservative Party. ... David Davis The Right Honourable David Michael Davis (born December 23, 1948) is a British politician, Conservative MP for Haltemprice and Howden and Shadow Home Secretary. ... This article is about Kenneth Clarke the politician, not Kenneth Clark the art historian. ... Iain Duncan Smith The Right Honourable George Iain Duncan Smith (born April 9, 1954) is a British politician. ... Theresa May The Right Honourable Theresa May (born 1956) is a British politician, former chairman of the Conservative Party, and Member of Parliament for Maidenhead. ...

One area in which the battle for the soul of the party was visible, was the party's position over ID cards. At first it was hesitant to oppose a measure that some consider valuable in the fight against crime and terrorism. However before the 2005 election, Shadow Home Secretary David Davis decided to position himself against the introduction of ID cards. He followed Michael Howard's original line that they were a good idea, but showed caution in the House of Commons when they were debated. At the same time, he argued within the Shadow Cabinet that escalating cost estimates and the need to protect libertarian values meant the proposals should be opposed. Subsequently the party altered its line, first allowing a free vote on ID cards and then opposing them outright. This was viewed by some as a victory for Davis, and a useful means for him to attempt reach out to liberal Conservatives before the subsequent Conservative leadership election. After many years of discussion through successive governments, in 2003 then British Home Secretary David Blunkett announced that the government intends to introduce a British national identity card linked to a national identity database, the National Identity Register, which will track all residents of the UK throughout their lives. ... David Davis The Right Honourable David Michael Davis (born December 23, 1948) is a British politician, Conservative MP for Haltemprice and Howden and Shadow Home Secretary. ...

The 2005 election saw the first black Conservative MP, Adam Afriyie, elected in Windsor. This contrasts positively with the situation in Cheltenham thirteen years earlier, when the black Conservative candidate John Taylor was defeated defending a Conservative seat, allegedly due to the unwillingness of local Conservatives voters to support a non-white candidate. Conservative modernisers point to Afriyie's election as evidence that the party is changing, though opponents argue that the election of a single black MP doesn't count for much against the anti-immigration campaign fought by the Conservatives in 2005. Adam Afriyie (born 4 August 1965, Wimbledon, London), British politician, is the Conservative Member of Parliament for Windsor. ... Windsor is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. ... Cheltenham is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. ... John David Beckett Taylor, Baron Taylor of Warwick (born 1952) is a British politician and Conservative member of the House of Lords. ... Anti-immigrant and anti-immigration are labels often applied to those who are opposed to having significant levels of immigration in their countries. ...

Sleaze

A number of political scandals in the 1980s and 1990s created the impression of what is described in the British press as "sleaze": a perception that the Conservatives were associated with political corruption and hypocrisy. In particular the successful entrapment of Graham Riddick and David Tredinnick in the "cash for questions" scandal, the contemporaneous misconduct as a minister by Neil Hamilton (who lost a consequent libel action against The Guardian), and the convictions of former Cabinet member Jonathan Aitken and former party deputy chairman Jeffrey Archer for perjury in two separate cases leading to custodial sentences damaged the Conservatives' public reputation. Persistent unsubstantiated rumours about the activities of the party treasurer Michael Ashcroft did not help this impression. This is a list of British political scandals, real or alleged: 1700s South Sea Bubble (1720) 1910s Marconi scandal of insider trading by Rufus Isaacs and others (1912) 1920s Zinoviev Letter (1924) 1930s Jimmy Thomas budget leak (1936) 1940s Hugh Dalton budget leak (1947) John Belcher corruptly influenced - led to... // Events and trends The 1980s marked an abrupt shift towards more conservative lifestyles after the momentous cultural revolutions which took place in the 1960s and 1970s and the definition of the AIDS virus in 1981. ... // Events and trends The 1990s are generally classified as having moved slightly away from the more conservative 1980s, but otherwise retaining the same mindset. ... In broad terms, political corruption is the misuse of public office for the benefit of financial or religious interests, to serve some ethnic or other group interest, or for private gain. ... Look up Hypocrisy on Wiktionary, the free dictionary Hypocrisy is the act of pretending to have morals or virtues that one does not truly possess or practice. ... David Arthur Stephen Tredinnick (born 19 January 1950) is a Conservative politician in the United Kingdom. ... The cash-for-questions affair was a controversial political scandal in 1990s Britain. ... This page is about Neil Hamilton, former MP and media personality. ... The Guardian is a British newspaper owned by the Guardian Media Group. ... Jonathan Aitken (born August 30, 1942) is a former Conservative minister, and convicted perjurer. ... Jeffrey Howard Archer, Baron Archer of Weston-super-Mare (born April 15, 1940) is the successful author of a number of popular novels, raised considerable sums for charities, was a former MP and Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party, who was later convicted of perjury. ... Perjury is lying or making verifiably false statements under oath in a court of law. ... Michael Anthony Ashcroft, Baron Ashcroft KCMG (born March 4, 1946) is a British businessman and politician who has been a member of the House of Lords since 2000. ...

At the same time a series of revelations about the private lives of various Conservative politicians also grabbed the headlines and both the media and the party's opponents made little attempt to clarify the distinction between financial conduct and private lives.

John Major's "Back to Basics" campaign back-fired because of media focus on its morality aspects, where they exposed "sleaze" within the Conservative Party and, most damagingly, within the Cabinet itself. A number of ministers were then revealed to have committed sexual indiscretions, and Major was forced by media pressure to dismiss them. In September 2002 it was revealed that, prior to his promotion to the cabinet, Major had himself had a longstanding extramarital affair with a fellow MP, Edwina Currie. The Right Honourable Sir John Major, KG, CH (born 29 March 1943) is a British politician who served in the Cabinets of Margaret Thatcher as Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Foreign Secretary and Chancellor of the Exchequer before succeeding Thatcher as Conservative Party leader and Prime Minister of the United... September is the ninth month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of four Gregorian months with 30 days. ... 2002(MMII) is a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Edwina Currie Edwina Currie (born 13 October 1946 in Liverpool) is a former British Member of Parliament. ...

History

Main articles: History of the Conservative Party and Leaders of the Conservative Party The origins of the Conservative Party go back to the Tory faction of 1678-1681 which opposed the exclusion of the Duke of York, later King James VII&II, from the order of succession to the throne. ... Leaders of the Conservative Party since 1834. ...

The origins of the Conservative Party go back to the Tory faction of 1678-1681 which opposed the exclusion of the Duke of York, later King James VII&II, from the order of succession to the throne. The term 'Conservative' was first used by George Canning in the 1820s and was suggested as a title for the party by John Wilson Croker in the 1830s and later officially adopted, but the party is still often referred to as the 'Tory Party' (not least because newspaper editors find it a convenient shorthand when space is limited). The Tories more often than not formed the government from the accession of King George III (in 1760) until the Great Reform Act of 1832. Events August 10 - Treaty of Nijmegen ends the Dutch War. ... Events March 4 - Charles II of England grants a land charter to William Penn for the area that will later become Pennsylvania. ... The Exclusion Bill crisis ran from 1678 till 1681. ... James II of England and VII of Scotland ( 14 October 1633–16 September 1701 ) became King of England, Scotland, and Ireland from 6 February 1685. ... The Right Honourable George Canning (11 April 1770-8 August 1827) was a British politician who served as Foreign Secretary and, briefly, Prime Minister. ... Events and Trends Nationalistic independence movements helped reshape the world during this decade: Greece declares independence from the Ottoman Empire (1821). ... John Wilson Croker (December 20, 1780 - August 10, 1857) was a British statesman and author. ... Events and Trends Electromagnetic induction discovered by Michael Faraday Dutch-speaking farmers known as Voortrekkers emigrate northwards from the Cape Colony Croquet invented in Ireland Railroad construction begins in earnest in the United States Egba refugees fleeing the Yoruba civil wars found the city of Abeokuta in south-west Nigeria... George III (George William Frederick) (4 June 1738 – 29 January 1820) was King of Great Britain, and King of Ireland from 25 October 1760 until 1 January 1801, and thereafter King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland until his death. ... 1760 was a leap year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... The British Reform Act of 1832 (2 & 3 Will. ... 1832 was a leap year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ...

Widening of the franchise in the 19th century led the party to popularise its approach, especially under Benjamin Disraeli who carried through his own Reform Act in 1868. After 1886 the Conservatives allied with Liberals who opposed their party's support for Irish Home Rule and held office for all but three of the following twenty years, but when it split over tariff reform, the party suffered a landslide election defeat. Benjamin Disraeli, 1st Earl of Beaconsfield (December 21, 1804 - April 24, British Conservative Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and author. ... 1868 was a leap year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... 1886 is a common year starting on Friday (click on link to calendar) // Events January 18 - Modern field hockey is born with the formation of The Hockey Association in England. ... Liberal Party is the name of dozens of political parties around the world. ... Devolution or Home rule is the pooling of powers from central government to government at regional or local level. ...

World War I saw an all-party coalition and the Conservatives then stayed in Coalition with half of the Liberals for four years after the armistice. Eventually, grassroots pressure forced the breakup of the Coalition and the party regained power on its own. It again dominated the political scene in the inter-war period, from 1931 in a 'National Government' coalition. However in the 1945 general election the party lost power in a landslide to the Labour Party. World War I was primarily a European conflict with many facets: immense human sacrifice, stalemate trench warfare, and the use of new, devastating weapons - tanks, aircraft, machineguns, and poison gas. ... 1931 is a common year starting on Thursday. ... In the United Kingdom the term National Government is in an abstract sense used to refer to a coalition of some or all major political parties. ... The United Kingdom General Election of 1945 held on 5 July 1945 but not counted and declared until 26 July 1945 (due to the time it took to transport the votes of those serving overseas) was one of the most significant general elections of the 20th century. ... The Labour Party is the principal centrist/centre-left political party in the United Kingdom (see British politics). ...

After the end of the Second World War, the Conservatives accepted the reality of the Labour government's nationalisation programme and creation of the 'welfare state', but when it returned to power promoted an economic boom, under Winston Churchill and later Harold Macmillan, which led back to prosperity in the 1950s. The Heath government of 1970-74 was notable for taking Britain into the EEC, a decision which would have a significant effect on the party over subsequent decades. In 1975 Margaret Thatcher became leader and converted it to support a monetarist economic programme; after her election victory in 1979 her government became known for a free-market approach and privatisation of public utilities. Here, the Conservatives experienced a high-point, Thatcher leading the Conservatives to two landslide election victories in 1983 and 1987. However, she was deeply unpopular in some sections of society, initially for the massive unemployment caused by the economic reforms, and later for what was seen as a heavy-handed response to the Miners' strike, and for her introduction of the poll tax (repealed within a year or two in favour of the council tax, essentially the previous rates system by another name). World War II was a truly global conflict with many facets: immense human suffering, fierce indoctrinations, and the use of new, extremely devastating weapons such as the atom bomb World War II, also known as the Second World War, was a mid-20th-century conflict that engulfed much of the... The Right Honourable Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, KG, OM, CH, FRS PC (30 November 1874 – 24 January 1965) was a British statesman, best known as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. ... The Right Honourable Maurice Harold Macmillan, 1st Earl of Stockton, OM, PC (10 February 1894–29 December 1986), nicknamed Supermac and Mac the Knife, was a British Conservative politician and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1957 to 1963. ... // Events and trends The 1950s in Western society was marked with a sharp rise in the economy for the first time in almost 30 years and return to the 1920s-type consumer society built on credit and boom-times, as well as the height of the baby-boom from returning... The Right Honourable Sir Edward Richard George Heath, KG, MBE (July 9, 1916 – July 17, 2005), soldier and politician, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1970 to 1974 and leader of the Conservative Party from 1965 to 1975. ... 1970 was a common year starting on Thursday. ... 1974 is a common year starting on Tuesday (click on link for calendar). ... The European Community (EC), most important of three European Communities, was originally founded on March 25, 1957 by the signing of the Treaty of Rome under the name of European Economic Community. ... 1975 was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1975 calendar). ... The Right Honourable Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher of Kesteven, LG, OM, PC, FRS (born October 13, 1925 in Grantham, Lincolnshire, England), is a British stateswoman and was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990, also Leader of the Opposition from 1975, and the only woman... Monetarism is a set of views concerning the determination of national income and monetary economics. ... This page refers to the year 1979. ... 1983 is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1987 is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The miners strike of 1984-5 was a major piece of industrial action affecting the British coal industry. ... A poll tax, head tax, or capitation is a tax of a uniform, fixed amount per individual (as opposed to a percentage of income). ... The Council Tax is the main form of local taxation in England, Scotland and Wales. ... Rates are a form of taxation system in the United Kingdom and elsewhere, such as New Zealand, historically used to fund local government. ...

However, Thatcher's increasing unpopularity and unwillingness to change policies perceived as vote-losing, together with internal tensions over European policy, led to her being deposed in 1990. She was replaced by John Major who won an unexpected election victory in 1992. Major's government suffered a political blow when the Pound Sterling was forced out of the European Exchange Rate Mechanism later that year, which lost the party much of its reputation for good financial stewardship. An effective opposition campaign by the Labour Party led to a landslide defeat in 1997. 1990 is a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Right Honourable Sir John Major, KG, CH (born 29 March 1943) is a British politician who served in the Cabinets of Margaret Thatcher as Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Foreign Secretary and Chancellor of the Exchequer before succeeding Thatcher as Conservative Party leader and Prime Minister of the United... 1992 was a leap year starting on Wednesday. ... The pound sterling, which strictly speaking refers to basic currency unit of sterling, now the pound, is the currency of the United Kingdom (UK). ... The European exchange rate mechanism (or ERM) was a system introduced by the European Community in March 1979, as part of the European Monetary System (EMS), to reduce exchange-rate variability and achieve monetary stability in Europe, in preparation for Economic and Monetary Union and the introduction of a single... 1997 is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Recent history (1997 - )

William Hague (1997 - 2001) portrayed himself at first as a moderniser with a common touch. However by the time the 2001 general election came he concentrated on Europe, asylum seekers and tax cuts whilst declaring that only the Conservative Party could "Save the Pound". He was seen as a political lightweight by many, and was widely mocked for his claim that he drank 14 imperial pints (8 l) of beer in a day in his youth. Despite a low turnout, the election resulted in a net gain of a single seat for the Conservative Party and William Hague's resignation as party leader. William Hague The Right Honourable William Jefferson Hague (born March 26, 1961) is a British politician and former leader of the Conservative Party. ... The UK general election, 2001 was held on 7 June 2001 and was dubbed the quiet landslide by the media. ...

Iain Duncan Smith (2001-2003) (often known as IDS) was a strong Eurosceptic but this did not define his leadership - indeed it was during his tenure that Europe ceased to be an issue of division in the party as it united behind calls for a referendum on the proposed European Union Constitution. Duncan Smith's Shadow Cabinet contained many new and unfamiliar faces but despite predictions by some that the party would lurch to the right the team instead followed a pragmatic moderate approach to policy. After losing a vote of confidence, Duncan Smith remained as caretaker leader until Michael Howard, MP for Folkestone and Hythe, was elected to the post of leader (as the only candidate) on 6 November 2003. Iain Duncan Smith The Right Honourable George Iain Duncan Smith (born April 9, 1954) is a British politician. ... Euroscepticism is scepticism about, or disagreement with, the purposes of the European Union, sometimes coupled with a wish to preserve national sovereignty. ... The Treaty establishing a constitution for Europe is a proposed constitutional treaty for the European Union. ... The Shadow Cabinet (also called the Opposition Front Bench) is a senior group of opposition spokespeople in the Westminster System of government who together under the leadership of the Leader of the Opposition (or the leader of other smaller opposition parties) form an alternative cabinet to the governments, whose... Michael Howard The Right Honourable Michael Howard, QC (born Michael Hecht, July 7, 1941) is a British politician, the Leader of the Opposition Conservative Party (although stepping down soon). ... A Member of Parliament, or MP, is a representative elected by the voters of an electoral district to a parliament; in the Westminster system, specifically to the lower house. ... Map sources for Folkestone at grid reference TR2236 Folkestone is a coastal resort town in the Shepway district of Kent, England. ... The small seaside resort and village of Hythe, in the District of Shepway, (derived from ship-way) is one of the five original Cinque Ports on the south coast of Kent, in England. ... November 6 is the 310th day of the year (311th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 55 days remaining. ... 2003(MMIII) is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Howard announced radical changes to the way the Shadow Cabinet would work. He slashed the number of members by half, with Theresa May and Tim Yeo each shadowing two government departments. Minor departments still have shadows but have been removed from the cabinet, and the post of Shadow Leader of the House of Commons was abolished. The role of party chairman was also split into two, with Lord Saatchi responsible for the party machine, and Liam Fox handling publicity. Michael Portillo was offered a position but refused, due to his plans to step down from Parliament at the next election. The Shadow Cabinet (also called the Opposition Front Bench) is a senior group of opposition spokespeople in the Westminster System of government who together under the leadership of the Leader of the Opposition (or the leader of other smaller opposition parties) form an alternative cabinet to the governments, whose... Theresa May The Right Honourable Theresa May (born 1956) is a British politician, former chairman of the Conservative Party, and Member of Parliament for Maidenhead. ... Tim Yeo Timothy Stephen Kenneth Yeo MP (born March 20, 1945) is a British Conservative politician, Member of Parliament for South Suffolk. ... The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, and is now the dominant branch of Parliament. ... Lord Saatchi Maurice Saatchi, Baron Saatchi, born June 21, 1946 is the co-founder of advertising agencies Saatchi and Saatchi and M&C Saatchi. ... Conservative MP Liam Fox Dr Liam Fox, MP (born September 22, 1961) is a UK Conservative politician, currently Shadow Foreign Secretary and Member of Parliament for Woodspring. ... Michael Portillo The Rt. ...

In the 2005 general election, the Conservative Party made a partial recovery, increasing their share of the vote by around 0.6% (up to 32.3%). However, due to a tactical unwind by Liberal Democrat voters (many of whom were no longer willing to back the Labour party in Labour vs. Conservative marginal seats), the Conservatives made a net gain of 33 seats. This helped slash the Labour majority from 167 seats down to 66. The day after, on May 6, Howard announced that he believed himself too old to lead the party into another election campaign, and he would therefore be stepping down to allow a new leader the time to prepare for the next election. Howard said that he believed that the party needed to amend the rules governing the election of the Party leader, and that he would allow time for that to happen before resigning. See Conservative Party (UK) leadership election, 2005 Barring a change in the law, the next general election in the United Kingdom must be held some time before June 30, 2006. ... In voting systems, tactical voting (or strategic voting) occurs when a voter misrepresents his or her sincere preferences in order to gain a more favorable outcome. ... Liberal democracy is a form of representative democracy where elected representatives that hold the decision power are moderated by a constitution that emphasizes protecting individual liberties and the rights of minorities in society, such as freedom of speech and assembly, freedom of religion, the right to private property and privacy... May 6 is the 126th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (127th in leap years). ... The 2005 Conservative leadership election was announced by party leader Michael Howard on May 6, 2005, when he announced that he would be stepping down as leader in the near future. ...

The campaign has received criticism from its main financial backer, Michael Spencer. In an interview with The Times Tim Collins claims the reasons the party won more seats will not or may not be repeated in the next general election: The Times is a national newspaper published daily in the United Kingdom. ... Timothy William George Collins CBE (born May 7, 1964) is a British politician. ...

• Unpopularity of Tony Blair which helped the Liberal Democrats and hence the Conservative Party in close fights. Blair will not be Prime Minister at the next election.
• Labour's campaign in their marginal seats was poor.

Internal Factions

There are three main political factions within the modern Conservative Party:

One Nation Conservatives were the dominant faction for most of the post-war era, providing Conservative Prime Ministers such as Harold MacMillan (1957-1963) and Edward Heath (1970-1974). The name comes from a famous phrase of Benjamin Disraeli and the basis of One Nation Conservatism is a belief in social cohesion, and advocates therefore support social institutions that maintain harmony between people of different classes (and more recently, people of different races or religions). These institutions have typically included the welfare state, the BBC, and local government. One Nation Conservatives are usually seen as being socially liberal, since tolerance is viewed as an important factor in social cohesion. Many are also supporters of the European Union, perhaps stemming from an extension of the cohesion principle to the international level, though some are strongly hostile to the EU. Prominent One Nation Conservatives in the modern party include Kenneth Clarke, Malcolm Rifkind and Damian Green, and the faction is associated with the internal pressure group, the Tory Reform Group. The expression One Nation is used in political debate in the United Kingdom to refer to the moderate wing of the Conservative Party, who like to describe themselves as One Nation Conservatives. ... The Right Honourable Maurice Harold Macmillan, 1st Earl of Stockton, OM, PC (10 February 1894–29 December 1986), nicknamed Supermac and Mac the Knife, was a British Conservative politician and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1957 to 1963. ... 1957 was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1963 was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... The Right Honourable Sir Edward Richard George Heath, KG, MBE (July 9, 1916 – July 17, 2005), soldier and politician, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1970 to 1974 and leader of the Conservative Party from 1965 to 1975. ... 1970 was a common year starting on Thursday. ... 1974 is a common year starting on Tuesday (click on link for calendar). ... The Right Honourable Benjamin Disraeli, 1st Earl of Beaconsfield, KG, PC (21 December 1804 – 19 April 1881) was a British statesman and literary figure. ... There are three main interpretations of the idea of a welfare state: the provision of welfare services by the state. ... Corporate logo of the British Broadcasting Corporation The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is the national broadcaster of the United Kingdom. ... Local governments are administrative offices of an area smaller than a state. ... This article is about Kenneth Clarke, the British politician. ... The Right Honourable Sir Malcolm Leslie Rifkind, KCMG, QC (born 21 June 1946) is a Scottish and British Conservative politician, Member of Parliament for the constituency of Kensington and Chelsea and Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and Welfare Reform. ... Damian Howard Green (born January 17, 1956) is an English Conservative Party politician, and member of Parliament for Ashford in Kent. ... The Tory Reform Group (TRG) is a group within the United Kingdoms Conservative Party, that uphold the One Nation Tory vision, which they describe as being the promotion of: Social justice Political progress Prosperity for all It is a common misconception that the TRG is pro-European. ...

The Thatcherite wing of the party achieved dominance after the election of Margaret Thatcher as party leader in 1975. The Thatcherite political agenda is mainly concerned with reducing the role of the government in the economy, and to this end they support tax cuts, privatisation of public services and a reduction in the size of the welfare state. Though Thatcher herself was socially conservative, her supporters harbour a range of social opinions from the liberal views of Michael Portillo to the traditional conservatism of William Hague and David Davis. Thatcherites are Eurosceptic, since they view many European regulations as unwelcome interference in the market. Many take inspiration from Thatcher's famous anti-EU Bruges speech in 1988, in which she declared that "we have not successfully rolled back the frontiers of the state in Britain, only to see them reimposed at a European level". Thatcherites also tend to be atlanticist, dating back to the close friendship between Thatcher and US President Ronald Reagan. The Right Honourable Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, LG, OM, PC, FRS (born 13 October 1925) is a British politician and the first woman Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, a position she held from 1979 to 1990. ... The Right Honourable Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher of Kesteven, LG, OM, PC, FRS (born October 13, 1925 in Grantham, Lincolnshire, England), is a British stateswoman and was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990, also Leader of the Opposition from 1975, and the only woman... 1975 was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1975 calendar). ... Privatization (sometimes privatisation, denationalization, or — especially in India — disinvestment) is the process of transferring property, from public ownership to private ownership. ... Michael Portillo The Rt. ... William Hague The Right Honourable William Jefferson Hague (born March 26, 1961) is a British politician and former leader of the Conservative Party. ... David Davis The Right Honourable David Michael Davis (born December 23, 1948) is a British politician, Conservative MP for Haltemprice and Howden and Shadow Home Secretary. ... Euroscepticism is scepticism about, or disagreement with, the purposes of the European Union, sometimes coupled with a desire to preserve national sovereignty. ... 1988 is a leap year starting on a Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Atlanticism is a philosophy of cooperation among European and North American nations regarding political, economic, and defense issues. ... Ronald Wilson Reagan, GCB, (February 6, 1911 – June 5, 2004) was the 40th President of the United States (1981–1989) and the 33rd Governor of California (1967–1975). ...

The so-called Faith, Flag and Family wing are the third main element within the Conservative Party. This faction's name is drawn from its support for three British social institutions: the established Church, the unitary British state and the traditional family. To this end, they emphasise Britain's Protestant heritage, they oppose any transfer of power away from the state (either downwards to the nations and regions or upwards to the European Union), and they are highly critical of homosexuals, single parents and other non-traditional family groupings. They are strongly opposed to immigration into the UK, and some have in the past professed racist opinions. They also are known for their support for capital punishment. Prominent MPs from this wing of the party include Andrew Rosindell and Edward Leigh. It should be noted that this faction has never been particularly strong within the parliamentary party, although its strength within the rank-and-file party membership means that it wields considerable power over Conservative social policy. Gay Conservative MP Alan Duncan famously once referred to this wing as a "Taleban tendency" within the party. Historically, many Conservatives from this faction were members of the Monday Club, and more recently they have participated in the Cornerstone Group. The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and acts as the mother and senior branch of the worldwide Anglican Communion as well as a founding member of the Porvoo Communion. ... A map showing the unitary states. ... Protestantism is a general grouping of denominations within Christianity. ... Andrew Richard Rosindell (born March 17, 1966) is a British Conservative Member of Parliament for Romford, and Vice-Chairman of the Conservative Party. ... Edward Julian Egerton Leigh (born 20 July 1950) is a politician in the United Kingdom. ... Alan James Carter Duncan MP (born March 31, 1957) is a British Conservative politician, and Member of Parliament for Rutland and Melton. ... Flag flown by the Taliban. ... The Monday Club is a conservative British pressure group formed at the time of Harold Macmillans Winds of Change speech in opposition to the drift of the Conservative Party towards liberalism. ... The Cornerstone Group is a socially conservative or traditionalist grouping within British Conservative Party consisting of Eurosceptic, traditionalist MPs. ...

Note that not all Conservative MPs can be easily placed within these three groupings. For example, John Major was the ostensibly "Thatcherite" candidate during the 1990 leadership election, but he consistently promoted One Nation Conservatives to the higher reaches of his cabinet during his time as Prime Minister. These included Kenneth Clarke (Chancellor of the Exchequer) and Michael Heseltine (Deputy Prime Minister), two of the architects of Thatcher's downfall. The Right Honourable Sir John Major, KG, CH (born 29 March 1943) is a British politician who served in the Cabinets of Margaret Thatcher as Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Foreign Secretary and Chancellor of the Exchequer before succeeding Thatcher as Conservative Party leader and Prime Minister of the United... The 1990 Conservative leadership election took place in November 1990 following the decision of Michael Heseltine to stand against the incumbent Conservative leader and Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher. ... This article is about Kenneth Clarke, the British politician. ... Michael Heseltine walks out of the cabinet meeting having resigned, January 9, 1986 The Right Honourable Michael Ray Dibdin Heseltine, Baron Heseltine, CH, PC (born March 21, 1933), is a British Conservative politician and businessman. ...

Motto

'Taking a stand on the issues that matter'

Associated groups

Full list is at: List of organisations associated with the British Conservative Party This is a list of organisations that are associated with the British Conservative Party. ...

• Bow Group
• Cchange
• Centre for Policy Studies
• Conservative Research Department
• Conservative Way Forward
• Cornerstone Group
• European Foundation
• Tory Reform Group

The Bow Group is the oldest centre- right think tank in the United Kingdom. ... The Centre for Policy Studies is a United Kingdom-based think tank. ... The Conservative Research Department is an organisation founded by the British Conservative Party to develop party policy and to support the party leadership in promoting their policies and opposing those of rival parties. ... Conservative Way Forward is a group within the British Conservative Party. ... The Cornerstone Group is a socially conservative or traditionalist grouping within British Conservative Party consisting of Eurosceptic, traditionalist MPs. ... The European Foundation is a leading Eurosceptic think tank based in the United Kingdom. ... The Tory Reform Group (TRG) is a group within the United Kingdoms Conservative Party, that uphold the One Nation Tory vision, which they describe as being the promotion of: Social justice Political progress Prosperity for all It is a common misconception that the TRG is pro-European. ...

See also

• List of Conservative Party politicians
• Leaders of the Conservative Party
• Chairman of the Conservative Party
• Conservative Central Office
• British politics
• Thatcherism
• Euroscepticism
• UK topics
• Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet (UK) (current Conservative front bench)

List of Conservative Party politicians This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it. ... Leaders of the Conservative Party since 1834. ... In the United Kingdom, the Chairman of the Conservative Party is responsible for running the party machine, overseeing Conservative Central Office. ... Conservative Central Office (CCO) is the headquarters of the British Conservative Party, housing its central staff and committee members. ... The United Kingdom is a unitary state and a democratic constitutional monarchy. ... Thatcherism is the system of political thought attributed to the governments of Margaret Thatcher, British Prime Minister from 1979 to 1990. ... Euroscepticism is scepticism about, or disagreement with, the purposes of the European Union, sometimes coupled with a wish to preserve national sovereignty. ... Shortcut: UK topics This is a list of topics related to the United Kingdom. ... The current Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet is listed below. ...

Further reading

• Geoffrey Wheatcroft (2005), The Strange Death of Tory England

External links

Official Party sites

• The Conservative Party
• The Scottish Conservative & Unionist Party
• Welsh Conservatives
• Conservatives in Northern Ireland
• Conservative Future - party youth wing

Internal party policy groups

• The Bow Group
• Conservative Way Forward
• The Tory Reform Group

Other

• An archive of Conservative electoral manifestos from 1900-present and a directory of Conservative Party websites, including constituency associations
• Guardian Unlimited Politics - Special Report: Conservative Party
• LookSmart - Conservative Party directory category
• The Spectator Often called the Conservative Party "house journal", although not officially affiliated to the party
• Open Directory Project - Conservative Party directory category
• Yahoo! - Conservative Party directory category

• Geoffrey Wheatcroft, The Guardian , June 21, 2005, "I said the Tories were dead. It was an understatement: Since the election the party has made every available mistake"