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The Conservative Party

The Conservative Party. Introduction Origins (b) Organisational Principles ‘The New’ Conservative Party (a) The Hague Reforms (b) The Constituency Associations (c) National and Area Executives (d) The Board of Management (e) Party Groups

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The Conservative Party

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  1. The Conservative Party

  2. Introduction • Origins • (b) Organisational Principles • ‘The New’ Conservative Party • (a) The Hague Reforms • (b) The Constituency Associations • (c) National and Area Executives • (d) The Board of Management • (e) Party Groups • (f) Annual Conference

  3. 3. Central Office (a) Origins (b) The Chairman (men) 4. A Party in Transition (a) Bases of Success (b) Crisis in the Traditional Leadership (c) Thatcherism (d) The Post-Thatcher Crisis (e) Dave’s Solution 5. Conclusion

  4. 1. Introduction

  5. (a) Origins • Older than its formal organisation • Organised as a modern party by Benjamin Disraeli after Second Reform Act Benjamin Disraeli

  6. Disraeli:‘The Tory Party, unless it is a national party, is nothing. It is not a confederacy of nobles; it is not a democratic multitude; it is a party formed from all the numerous classes of the realm- classes equal before the law, but whose different conditions and different aims gives strength and variety to our national life….I look to the cultivation of public opinion and especially in the working classes for the maintenance of the British Empire.’

  7. (b) Organisational Principles • Denied Power to the Mass Membership • Gave great power to the Leader • Divided the National Union (amateur) and Central Office (professional)

  8. 2. The New Conservative Party

  9. The Hague Reforms: Fresh Future.A Single and Unified Party • Shock of Defeat • Hague’s Ambition and Background • Rank and File Pressure for Reform • Central Office desire for greater centralisation

  10. Main Features: • A Codified Constitution • A Constitutional Convention • A Board of Management

  11. (b) The Constituency Associations • Recruit Members • Retain Contact with electorate • Organise parliamentary elections • Organise Local Elections • Raises Money • Employ Agents & Organisers • Select Parliamentary Candidates

  12. (c) National and Area Executives • Note that Scotland is Independent

  13. (d) The Party Board of Management Permanent Sub-Committees (i) Candidate Recruitment (ii) Conference Preparation and Management (iii) Membership Subscriptions Other Committees as appropriate

  14. Conservative Disability Group (e) Party Groups Association of Conservative Clubs Society of Conservative Lawyers Conservative Rural Action Group

  15. Conservative Friends of Israel Conservative Women’s Council Conservative Policy Forum

  16. Conservative Medical Society: ‘Join Us!’ Conservative Future Ethnic Diversity Council Conservative Christian Fellowship

  17. (f) The Annual Conference • The attendees are Representatives, not Delegates • Motions are general, unspecific • Voting is rare • Representatives reluctant to criticise the leadership • Traditionally the leader did not attend • A great Jamboree

  18. Leader’s Speech Conservative Conference 2006 2006 Conference

  19. George Osborne Shadow Chancellor Francis Maude Party Chairman William Hague Shadow foreign secretary

  20. Meet the candidates Meet the Buffoon Shadow Minister for Higher Education Boris Johnson

  21. 3. Central Office

  22. (a) Origins of Central Office • 1870: Founded & Gorst appointed principle agent • 1871: Gorst made secretary of the National Union • 1872: Central Office and National Union under the same roof • 1911: First Chairman of the Party appointed

  23. (b) Chairman of the Party • Appointed by the Leader • Politically Sensitive • Role: Less a bureaucrat • than a cheerleader • Assisted by Vice-Chairmen

  24. Theresa May, Speaks as Party Chairman, 2002. “Nasty Party”.

  25. New Chairmen appointed by David Cameron Francis Maude

  26. 4. ‘New Conservative?’ : a party in transition.

  27. William Hague & Ffion at Nottinghill Carnival Iain Duncan-Smith Meeting Rastafarian 'Peace Officers' from the Hailie Selassie Foundation in BirminghamDate: 26 June 2003

  28. (a) Bases of Success • Social Deference • Fear of Labour • Subordination of ideology to the acquisition of power

  29. (b) Crisis of Confidence in the traditional leadership 1964-1974 • Wilson defeats 14th Earl of Home • Decline of centre-right deference • Upper Class Betrayal

  30. (c) Thatcherism: Sharper Ideological Edge • Economic Liberalism • Social Individualism • English Nationalism

  31. (d) Post-Thatcher Crisis • Economic Incompetence (1992 devaluation) • New Labour • Europe • Uncertainty as to the party’s future direction

  32. (e) Dave’s Solution • Support for public spending as against tax cuts • Liberal approach to social issues • Environment • Downplaying of Europe

  33. 5. Conclusion

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