The Conservative Party

1. Introduction

(a) Origins

(b) Organisational Principles

2. ‘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. 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

1. Introduction

(a) Origins

Older than its formal organisation

Organised as a modern party by Benjamin Disraeli after Second Reform Act

Benjamin Disraeli

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.’

(b) Organisational Principles Denied Power to the Mass Membership

Gave great power to the Leader

Divided the National Union (amateur) and Central Office (professional)

2. The New Conservative Party

(a) 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

Main Features:

A Codified Constitution

A Constitutional Convention

A Board of Management

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

(c) National and Area Executives

Note that Scotland is Independent

-

(d) The Party Board of Management

Permanent Sub-Committees

(i) Candidate Recruitment

(ii) Conference Preparation and

Management

(iii) Membership Subscriptions

Other Committees as appropriate

(e) Party Groups

Association of Conservative Clubs

Association of Conservative Clubs

Society of Conservative Lawyers

Society of Conservative Lawyers

Conservative Rural Action GroupConservative Rural Action Group

Conservative Disability Group

Conservative Disability Group

Conservative Friends of Israel

Conservative Friends of Israel

Conservative Women’s Council

Conservative Women’s Council

Conservative Policy ForumConservative Policy Forum

Ethnic Diversity Council

Ethnic Diversity Council

Conservative Christian FellowshipConservative Christian Fellowship

Conservative Medical Society:

‘Join Us!’

Conservative Future

‘Join Us!’

Conservative Future

(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

Leader’s Speech Conservative Conference 2006

2006 Conference

George Osborne Shadow Chancellor

William Hague Shadow foreign secretary

Francis Maude Party Chairman

Meet the candidates

Meet the Buffoon

Shadow Minister for Higher Education Boris Johnson

3. Central Office

(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

(b) Chairman of the Party Appointed by the Leader

Politically Sensitive

Role: Less a bureaucrat than a cheerleader

Assisted by Vice-Chairmen

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

New Chairmen appointed by David Cameron

Francis Maude

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

Iain Duncan-Smith Meeting Rastafarian 'Peace Officers' from the Hailie Selassie Foundation in BirminghamDate: 26 June 2003

William Hague & Ffion at Nottinghill Carnival

(a) Bases of Success

Social Deference

Fear of Labour

Subordination of ideology to the acquisition of power

(b) Crisis of Confidence in the traditional leadership 1964-1974

Wilson defeats 14th

Earl of Home

Decline of centre-right deference

Upper Class Betrayal

(c) Thatcherism: Sharper Ideological Edge

Economic Liberalism

Social Individualism

English Nationalism

(d) Post-Thatcher Crisis

Economic Incompetence (1992 devaluation)

New Labour

Europe

Uncertainty as to the party’s future direction

(e) Dave’s Solution Support for public spending as against

tax cuts

Liberal approach to social issues

Environment

Downplaying of Europe

5. Conclusion