24/3/25
Cameron and the Coalition: Week 9
Part 1:
● Conservative Politics - returned the party to power after 13 years in opposition.
● Aspired to ‘modernise’ the Conservative Party.
● Leader of first coalition government since WWII.
● Key policy decisions in government which still have consequences today e.g.
austerity, referendums on Scottish independence and EU membership.
Prelude to the Cameron Era
● William Hague - 1997-2001 - lost 2001 election.
● Iain Duncan Smith - 2001-2003 - Deposed.
● Michael Howard - 2003-2005 - lost 2005 election.
Conservative Failure - 1997-2005: Hague
● ‘New’ election rules - leaders would now be elected by the whole party membership.
● Endorsement of ‘compassionate Conservatism’, efforts made to soften the party’s
image
● BUT, following failure to make progress in the polls, Hague took a more Thatcherite
direction emphasising lower tax and tough immigration policies.
● Failed to establish himself as a popular or credible alternative PM. He led the
Conservative Party to another landslide defeat in 2001.
Conservative Failure - 1997-2005: IDS
● Attempted to change the party with fresh thinking on areas such as health, transport
and poverty.
● He also reverted to more Thatcherite views under pressure. He struggled to project
himself as leader and Tory MPs removed him.
● IDS leadership did have some impact on Cameron era in time (particularly in terms of
welfare reform and idea of ‘social justice’ - Cameron made IDS Secretary of State for
Work and Pensions in 2010).
Conservative Failure - 1997-2005: Howard
● Made efforts to outflank Labour on its ‘own’ territory in emphasising issues such as
education.
● Never fully convinced by party modernisers, Howard pursued a ‘core vote’ strategy in
the 2005 General Election, playing up issues of asylum and immigration.
Conservative Failure - 1997-2005: Recurring Problems
● Establishing leadership credibility
, ● Constructing. Convincing narrative of the party’s purpose and values.
● Overcoming party splits e.g. between ‘modernisers’ and ‘traditionalists’ pro and anti-
EU.
● Challenging an electorally powerful ‘New Labour’.
● Failure to exploit Government weaknesses on issues such as Iraq.
‘Change to Win’
● Third General Election defeat for Conservatives in May 2005.
● David Cameron, elected Conservative Party leader in December 2005 on an
explicitly modernising platform, sets about ‘detoxifying’ the Conservative brand.
● In 2005, David Cameron’s youth and fresh image were an asset for a party hoping to
distance itself from recent failure.
● Established a firm ‘modernising’ agenda, distancing the party from Thatcherism and
stressing the party's commitment on issues such as the NHS, Environment and
Social Justice.
● Privately, Cameron was said to have described himself as the ‘heir to Blair’; his style
rhetoric particularly mimicked new Labour’s ‘third way’ pitch for the political ‘centre’.
● However, arguably, a strong ‘anti-statist’ ideological theme was also present in
Cameron’s discourse.
Cameron in Opposition 2005-2010
● Promoted theme of ‘the Big Society’.
● Asked party to ‘stop banging on about Europe’.
● Criticised from the Right of the party.
● Spoke of a ‘new economic consensus’ in British Politics’.
The 2007-2008 Global Financial Crash
● After the financial crash in 2007-8, Cameron switched to emphasise the need for
public spending cuts, dropping the pledge to match Labour’s spending plans.
● With Gordon Brown having replaced Blair as the PM in 2007, Cameron attacked
Labour on their economic performance.
● Continued commitment to neoliberal economic outlook evident i.e. influence of
Thatcherism remained strong.
Liberal Democrats 1997-2010
● Made major electoral gains under Paddy Ashdown in 1997 (46 seats).
● Good relations between Labour leaders and the Liberal Democrats became frostier
under Charles Kennedy’s leadership 1999 and 2006.
● However, the party continued to make electoral gains in 2001 (52 seats) and 2005
(62 seats) on a centre-left, social democratic platform.
● Kennedy resigned in 2006 due to an alcohol problem and Menzies Campbell did not
last long as his successor, resigning in 2007.
● Nick Clegg narrowly defeats Chris Huhne for leadership.
Cameron and the Coalition: Week 9
Part 1:
● Conservative Politics - returned the party to power after 13 years in opposition.
● Aspired to ‘modernise’ the Conservative Party.
● Leader of first coalition government since WWII.
● Key policy decisions in government which still have consequences today e.g.
austerity, referendums on Scottish independence and EU membership.
Prelude to the Cameron Era
● William Hague - 1997-2001 - lost 2001 election.
● Iain Duncan Smith - 2001-2003 - Deposed.
● Michael Howard - 2003-2005 - lost 2005 election.
Conservative Failure - 1997-2005: Hague
● ‘New’ election rules - leaders would now be elected by the whole party membership.
● Endorsement of ‘compassionate Conservatism’, efforts made to soften the party’s
image
● BUT, following failure to make progress in the polls, Hague took a more Thatcherite
direction emphasising lower tax and tough immigration policies.
● Failed to establish himself as a popular or credible alternative PM. He led the
Conservative Party to another landslide defeat in 2001.
Conservative Failure - 1997-2005: IDS
● Attempted to change the party with fresh thinking on areas such as health, transport
and poverty.
● He also reverted to more Thatcherite views under pressure. He struggled to project
himself as leader and Tory MPs removed him.
● IDS leadership did have some impact on Cameron era in time (particularly in terms of
welfare reform and idea of ‘social justice’ - Cameron made IDS Secretary of State for
Work and Pensions in 2010).
Conservative Failure - 1997-2005: Howard
● Made efforts to outflank Labour on its ‘own’ territory in emphasising issues such as
education.
● Never fully convinced by party modernisers, Howard pursued a ‘core vote’ strategy in
the 2005 General Election, playing up issues of asylum and immigration.
Conservative Failure - 1997-2005: Recurring Problems
● Establishing leadership credibility
, ● Constructing. Convincing narrative of the party’s purpose and values.
● Overcoming party splits e.g. between ‘modernisers’ and ‘traditionalists’ pro and anti-
EU.
● Challenging an electorally powerful ‘New Labour’.
● Failure to exploit Government weaknesses on issues such as Iraq.
‘Change to Win’
● Third General Election defeat for Conservatives in May 2005.
● David Cameron, elected Conservative Party leader in December 2005 on an
explicitly modernising platform, sets about ‘detoxifying’ the Conservative brand.
● In 2005, David Cameron’s youth and fresh image were an asset for a party hoping to
distance itself from recent failure.
● Established a firm ‘modernising’ agenda, distancing the party from Thatcherism and
stressing the party's commitment on issues such as the NHS, Environment and
Social Justice.
● Privately, Cameron was said to have described himself as the ‘heir to Blair’; his style
rhetoric particularly mimicked new Labour’s ‘third way’ pitch for the political ‘centre’.
● However, arguably, a strong ‘anti-statist’ ideological theme was also present in
Cameron’s discourse.
Cameron in Opposition 2005-2010
● Promoted theme of ‘the Big Society’.
● Asked party to ‘stop banging on about Europe’.
● Criticised from the Right of the party.
● Spoke of a ‘new economic consensus’ in British Politics’.
The 2007-2008 Global Financial Crash
● After the financial crash in 2007-8, Cameron switched to emphasise the need for
public spending cuts, dropping the pledge to match Labour’s spending plans.
● With Gordon Brown having replaced Blair as the PM in 2007, Cameron attacked
Labour on their economic performance.
● Continued commitment to neoliberal economic outlook evident i.e. influence of
Thatcherism remained strong.
Liberal Democrats 1997-2010
● Made major electoral gains under Paddy Ashdown in 1997 (46 seats).
● Good relations between Labour leaders and the Liberal Democrats became frostier
under Charles Kennedy’s leadership 1999 and 2006.
● However, the party continued to make electoral gains in 2001 (52 seats) and 2005
(62 seats) on a centre-left, social democratic platform.
● Kennedy resigned in 2006 due to an alcohol problem and Menzies Campbell did not
last long as his successor, resigning in 2007.
● Nick Clegg narrowly defeats Chris Huhne for leadership.
