Conservative Party (UK)

The Conservative party is the largest right-wing political party in the United Kingdom. It was formerly called the Tory party, and its members are still commonly referred to as "Tories".

Its current (but now rarely used) formal name, as registered with the UK Electoral Commission, is the Conservative and Unionist Party, 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.

After suffering two consecutive and humiliating general election defeats at the hand of the Labour party in 1997 and 2001 the Conservative party looks as if it faces a daunting task to become electable as a party of government (a party that can credibly run the country). In the last demographic survey of Conservative party members the average age was found to be 65.

The party remains heavily influenced by the ideological legacy (Thatcherism} of Margaret Thatcher, party leader from February 1975 until her resignation on November 22 1990. She radicalised the party, taking firm control, promoting Euroscepticism and introducing Monetarism as a key element of her financial ideology. After winning three general successive general elections (1979, 1983 and 1987) she lost the confidence of colleagues before she could fight her fourth.

In her place John Major took over her role as leader of the Conservative party and prime minister. However the instability resulting from Thatcher's removal and the significantly reduced Conservative majority from the 1992 UK general election, which most commentators expected him to lose, proved to be overwelming.

During that time Eurosceptic rebels such as Iain Duncan Smith undermined him as he sought to find a balance between the factions of his party that were waring over Europe. At times he was forced to rely on Ulster Unionist party MPs to help him pass legislation through parliament.

At one point John Major actually resigned as Prime Minster and party leader in an attempt to bring his party under some sort of control. The 1997 UK general election saw the British Labour Party sweep the Conservatives out of power after eighteen years of government, in a landslide victory that resulted in John Major resigning for the final time as leader of the Conservatives.

In his place William Hague was elected leader, defeating Ken Clarke. At first William Hague portrayed himself 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". Despite a low turnout (usually a good sign for the party), the election resulted in a net gain of a single seat for the Conservative party and William Hague's resignation as party leader.

A new leadership electoral system designed by Hague resulted in five candidates competing for the job; Michael Portillo, Iain Duncan Smith, Ken Clarke, David Davis and Micheal Ancram. The drawn out and at times acrimonious election saw Conservative MPs select Ian Duncan Smith and Ken Clarke to be put forward for a vote by party members. As Conservative party members are characteristicaly Eurosceptic, Ian Duncan Smith was elected, even though opinion polls showed that the public preferred Ken Clarke, a member of the Tory Reform Group.

Iain Duncan Smith is a strong eurosceptic; although he supports continued membership in the European Union, he opposes the UK ever joining the Euro, unlike his predecessor William Hague, who opposed joining the Euro for the term of the next parliament, without absolutely ruling out joining it in the future.

He since has filled his shadow cabinet with similarily unknown Eurosceptics, generally pushed the party further to the right, and alienated many Europhile and moderate Tories. Some believe that the party has turned so far right that they are now destined for political oblivion.

Others noted however, that people were saying similar things about the Labour Party in the 1980's being destined for oblivion because it was so far left, and that the dynamics of the two-party system can create surprising comebacks.

The current Conservative leadership appears to be steering the party to the political left of Tony Blair's "New Labour" project, to the point that they won praise from Labour left-winger [[Tony Benn in March 2002.

Famous Conservative MPs: