The Conservatives in Crisis: The Tories After 1997Mark Garnett, Philip Lynch The Conservative Party's survival as a significant political force was now open to serious question for the first time since the crisis over the Corn Laws. The Labour Party has commanded a fairly consistent level of attention, whether in office or in opposition. But it seems that the Conservatives are fated to be regarded either as unavoidable or irrelevant. This book presents an analysis that suggests that the party leader plays a less important role in Conservative recoveries than a distinctive policy programme and an effective party organization. It examines the Conservative position on a series of key issues, highlighting the difficult dilemmas which confronted the party after 1997, notably on economic policy. New Labour's acceptance of much of the main thrust of Thatcherite economic policy threw the Conservatives off balance. The pragmatism of this new position and the 'In Europe, not run by Europe' platform masked a significant move towards Euro-skepticism. The book also traces how the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Parties adapted to the creation of the Scottish Parliament, exploring the re-organisation of the Scottish party, its electoral fortunes and political prospects in the new Scottish politics. It examines issues of identity and nationhood in Conservative politics in the 1997-2001 period, focusing on the 'English Question' and the politics of 'race'. The predictable results of the Conservatives' failure to develop an attractive, consistent narrative are then analysed. Right-wing populist parties with charismatic leaders enjoyed some electoral success under the proportional representation systems in 2002. |
Contents
lessons for the Conservatives? | 29 |
the leadership gamble of William Hague | 49 |
The Conservative parliamentary party | 69 |
Copyright | |
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1997 general election 2001 general election activists agenda areas argued asylum seekers backbenchers ballot Bill Blair government Britain British Bush candidates cent Central Office centre claimed Clarke compassionate conservatism Conservative MPs Conservative Party Conservative politics constituency core Daily Telegraph democracy despite devolution economic effective election campaign election defeat electoral English euro Euro-sceptic Europe European factors Fresh Future frontbench government's Hague's Iain Duncan Smith identity ideological issues Labour Party landslide leadership contest leadership election Liberal Democrats Lilley Listening to Britain London Lord Major membership Michael Portillo Minister MSPs October OMOV opinion polls opposed opposition organisation parliamentary party party conference party leader party members party's period populist Portillo position pro-European public services recovery referendum reform Republican Scotland Scottish Conservatives Scottish Parliament seats Seldon Shadow Cabinet single currency social speech strategy Thatcher Thatcherite traditional Union vatives vote voters Westminster whilst William Hague