Evaluate the view that the conservative party is a new right party
Since the emergence of Thatcherism in the 1980’s, the ideology of the
Conservative party has shifted from one- nation conservatism to new –
right conservatism. Despite one – nation principles still being present in
some conservative policies (primarily those surrounding the economy and
welfare) the Conservative party is now fundamentally a new – right party.
Some One - Nation principles can be seen in the approaches to law and
order of recent Conservative governments, particularly under Cameron’s
socially progressive government. Cameron favoured the rehabilitation of
drug addicts rather than punishment, fitting with the One – Nation belief in
compassionate conservatism. Some may unconvincingly argue that this
evidences the conservative party as being rooted in one – nation
principles, with Cameron’s approach to law and order being in stark
contrast to new – right favouritism of strong police forces. This One –
Nation approach to law and order is undermined by stricter law
enforcement of conservative governments since Cameron. The
investigatory powers act (2016) passed under May (which gives the
government enhanced powers of surveillance to protect national security)
in addition to recent appointment as home secretary of critics of liberalism
such as Priti Patel and Suella Braverman demonstrates an
uncompromising Thatcherite approach to law and order. This is the
strongest point in support of the idea that the Conservative party is now
fuelled by a new – right agenda, with all recent conservative governments
since Cameron being committed to stricter enforcement of law and order.
Some may unconvincingly argue that one nation principles can also be
observed in areas of foreign policy, evidenced by the way in which the
majority of Conservative MPs voted to remain in the EU at the time of the
2016 EU referendum. This is in line with the pro – EU stance of One –
Nation Conservatives, contradictory to the idea that the conservative
party is based on Thatcherite principles. Although this pro – EU stance
may be true of the conservative party in 2016, it is undermined by recent
influences of Thatcherism on other aspects of foreign policy. Boris
Johnson’s negotiation of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU and the growing
influence of the European Research Group within the party mirror the new
– right commitment to sovereign borders, with the pro – EU tradition
represented by the One – Nation faction of the party being almost
completely eradicated. Furthermore, Conservative for the US led wars in
Afghanistan and Iraq demonstrates a new – right Atlanticist approach to
foreign policy, and support for the US – UK special relationship. Foreign
policy is evidently a significant point in favour of the idea that the
Since the emergence of Thatcherism in the 1980’s, the ideology of the
Conservative party has shifted from one- nation conservatism to new –
right conservatism. Despite one – nation principles still being present in
some conservative policies (primarily those surrounding the economy and
welfare) the Conservative party is now fundamentally a new – right party.
Some One - Nation principles can be seen in the approaches to law and
order of recent Conservative governments, particularly under Cameron’s
socially progressive government. Cameron favoured the rehabilitation of
drug addicts rather than punishment, fitting with the One – Nation belief in
compassionate conservatism. Some may unconvincingly argue that this
evidences the conservative party as being rooted in one – nation
principles, with Cameron’s approach to law and order being in stark
contrast to new – right favouritism of strong police forces. This One –
Nation approach to law and order is undermined by stricter law
enforcement of conservative governments since Cameron. The
investigatory powers act (2016) passed under May (which gives the
government enhanced powers of surveillance to protect national security)
in addition to recent appointment as home secretary of critics of liberalism
such as Priti Patel and Suella Braverman demonstrates an
uncompromising Thatcherite approach to law and order. This is the
strongest point in support of the idea that the Conservative party is now
fuelled by a new – right agenda, with all recent conservative governments
since Cameron being committed to stricter enforcement of law and order.
Some may unconvincingly argue that one nation principles can also be
observed in areas of foreign policy, evidenced by the way in which the
majority of Conservative MPs voted to remain in the EU at the time of the
2016 EU referendum. This is in line with the pro – EU stance of One –
Nation Conservatives, contradictory to the idea that the conservative
party is based on Thatcherite principles. Although this pro – EU stance
may be true of the conservative party in 2016, it is undermined by recent
influences of Thatcherism on other aspects of foreign policy. Boris
Johnson’s negotiation of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU and the growing
influence of the European Research Group within the party mirror the new
– right commitment to sovereign borders, with the pro – EU tradition
represented by the One – Nation faction of the party being almost
completely eradicated. Furthermore, Conservative for the US led wars in
Afghanistan and Iraq demonstrates a new – right Atlanticist approach to
foreign policy, and support for the US – UK special relationship. Foreign
policy is evidently a significant point in favour of the idea that the
