Conservative Party (UK)

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A guide to

U.K. Politics

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The Conservative Party (or the Tories) is one of the two to six (depending on who you ask) major political parties in the UK, and like most political parties it has distinct factions which gain and lose internal power over time. As of 2014, they have 302 MPs in the House of Commons, 232 Lords in the House of Lords, and 19 MEPs in the European Parliament. They are helped by the fact that almost every newspaper is in bed with them and are currently the senior party in the governing coalition. They have not won a majority for 23 years.

Contents

[edit] Current leadership

Since the 1997 landslide election that put Tony Blair's Labour Party into power, the party has undergone more than its fair share of leadership changes whenever they lost an election, going from William Hague to Iain Duncan Smith to Michael Howard. The current leader and Prime Minister is David Cameron, who, despite his elitist and privileged background, is trying awfully hard to come across as "one of the people." This is where most satire about Cameron comes from - in Tony! The Blair Musical he's featured rapping about it. However, most of the party still harps on about the good old days of Margaret Thatcher, who is the most reviled (or, depending who you talk to, most revered) UK politician in recent times.

[edit] Recent history

In the late 70s Thatcher greatly changed the conservative movement in the UK by taking a firm stance against government role in British life and society and the perception of "encroaching socialism." She tackled the power of some entrenched interests, such as unions... while reinforcing other entrenched interests, like big business, and creating an economy based on services as opposed to industry, deeming the latter to be an anachronism. This meant dramatically reducing the size of the state and cut taxes generally, which resulted in a general stabilization of economic growth while causing an increase in unemployment and a soon-to-be vulnerable financial system (New Labour would be the ones to give it the final kick in the nuts, though). By the time she left office, the size of the state relative to the economy was at its smallest since before the Second World War. There was some social tension due to the bullheaded nature of this economic transition, particularly in the north of England and Scotland, where anti-Thatcherism remains to this day.

While the Conservative Party has gradually become more moderate in recent years, they're certainly Lefty-liberal-whoopsies compared to US Republicans at the moment. Similarly, Labour have been considered to be leaning more to the right, making the last few UK general elections rather bland and boring battles for the supposed "centre" ground. That said, the Conservatives have their share of old-school gibbering right-wing nutters (who the shadow cabinet refer to as "backwoodsmen"[1]), much as Labour has its share of diehard socialists.

One-nation Toryism, the tradition that Cameron pretends to espouse, harks back to Benjamin Disraeli[wp] and the other Tory titans of the early to mid 19th century. It aims to unify rather than divide the country. The Tories who surrendered to Labour after the Second World War would have been of this mould, as they too attempted to unify the country by embracing the welfare state in general.

[edit] Policies

Conservative policies currently consist largely of cutting the top rate of income tax from 50% to 45%, campaigning against proportional representation in the referendum that the Liberal Democrats demanded as their price for entering the coalition government and a ruthless targeting of austerity measures at the poor, sick and disabled. Look no further than George Osborne for such a policy.

[edit] Science

In regards to drugs policy, the conservatives do not support an evidence-based one. Conservative science spokesman Adam Afriyie when asked: "To what extent should drug policy be based on scientific evidence?" Replied that: "There may be times when ministers decide to take account of other considerations." What these other considerations could possibly be, has yet to be figured out.[2]

[edit] Tory wingnuts

Some party members appear to be against reason-based policy making, and/or in support of pseudoscience. Try using ctrl + F and see if you can find your MP here!

[edit] MPs in parliament

  • David Amess (MP for Southend West) - is for the prohibition of abortion regardless of scientific and medical consensus, is a supporter of homeopathy, for the exclusion of faith-based adoption agencies from the Equality Act so that they may discriminate against homosexual couples, supported now defunct blasphemy laws, and is also a member of the Cornerstone Group, a faction within the Conservative Party that promotes Christian values. Also asked Parliament to ban a recreational drug that didn't actually exist.
  • Richard Bacon (MP for South Norfolk) - is for the reduction of abortion time limits against scientific and medical consensus, is a supporter of homeopathy, and supported now defunct blasphemy laws.
  • John Baron (MP for Basildon and Billericay) - supporter of homeopathy.
  • Richard Benyon (MP for Newbury) - is for the reduction of abortion time limits against scientific and medical consensus, and is a supporter of homeopathy.
  • Brian Binley (MP for Northampton South) - is for the reduction of abortion time limits against scientific and medical consensus, is a strong supporter of homeopathy, for the exclusion of faith-based adoption agencies from the Equality Act so that they may discriminate against homosexual couples, supported now defunct blasphemy laws, and is also a member of the Cornerstone Group, a faction within the Conservative Party that promotes Christian values.
  • Peter Bone (MP for Wellingborough and Rushden) - is for the reduction of abortion time limits against scientific and medical consensus, is a strong supporter of homeopathy, supported now defunct blasphemy laws, and is also a member of the Cornerstone Group, a faction within the Conservative Party that promotes Christian values.
  • Graham Brady (MP for Altrincham and Sale West) - is for the reduction of abortion time limits against scientific and medical consensus and is a strong supporter of homeopathy.
  • Simon Burns (MP for Chelmsford and Minister of State for the Department of Health) - is for the reduction of abortion time limits against scientific and medical consensus, is a supporter of homeopathy, and supported now defunct blasphemy laws. This is especially worrying when taking into account that Burns as of May 2010 is a Minister of State for the Department of Health.
  • David Burrowes (MP for Enfield Southgate) - is for the reduction of abortion time limits against scientific and medical consensus, is a supporter of homeopathy, for the exclusion of faith-based adoption agencies from the Equality Act so that they may discriminate against homosexual couples. Burrowes is a member of the Cornerstone Group, a faction within the Conservative Party that promotes Christian values and is a trustee of the Conservative Christian Fellowship, an organisation allied with the Conservative Party that wishes to increase the number of Christians within the Conservative Party. Burrowes was one of a number of MPs who registered their employment of interns from the Christian charity group Christian Action, Research and Education (CARE), described by The Independent as a 'right wing Christian group'.
  • Douglas Carswell (MP for Clacton) - climate change denier, against evidence-based policy, and is the for the reduction of abortion time limits against scientific and medical consensus. Carswell is also a member of the Cornerstone Group, a faction within the Conservative Party that promotes Christian values. (No longer a Tory, has decided to fuck off to UKIP)
  • Christopher Chope (MP for Christchurch) - is for the reduction of abortion time limits against scientific and medical consensus, is a supporter of homeopathy, supported now defunct blasphemy laws, and is also a member of the Cornerstone Group, a faction within the Conservative Party that promotes Christian values.
  • James Clappison (MP for Hertsmere) - is for the reduction of abortion time limits against scientific and medical consensus, and is a supporter of homeopathy.
  • Greg Clark (MP for Tunbridge Wells and Minister of State in the Department for Communities and Local Government) - is for the reduction of abortion time limits against scientific and medical consensus, and is a supporter of homeopathy.[3]
  • Philip Davies (MP for Shipley) - seemingly a supporter of homeopathy, strongly denies climate change of any kind, against all political reform whatsoever, favours repealing the minimum wage.
  • Stephen Dorrell (MP for Charnwood) - is a supporter of homeopathy.
  • Nadine Dorries (MP for Mid Bedfordshire and member of the Science and Technology Select Committee) - is a strong supporter for the reduction of abortion time limits against scientific and medical consensus, and is strongly against embryonic research, believing it would involve "the possibility of seeking to inseminate animals with human sperm" and the creation of human and chimpanzee hybrids "humanzee." Seriously. Dorries is also a supporter of homeopathy, doesn't consider Trident to be weapons of mass destruction, supported now defunct blasphemy laws, and is a member of the Cornerstone Group, a faction within the Conservative Party that promotes Christian values. How one gets a seat on Science and Technology Select Committee remains a mystery.
  • James Duddridge (MP for Rochford and Southend East) - supporter of homeopathy.
  • Philip Dunne (MP for Ludlow) - supporter of homeopathy.
  • Tobias Ellwood (MP for Bournemouth East) - is for the reduction of abortion time limits against scientific and medical consensus, and is a strong supporter of homeopathy.
  • Nigel Evans (MP for Ribble Valley) - is for the reduction of abortion time limits against scientific and medical consensus, is a supporter of homeopathy, and supported now defunct blasphemy laws despite supporting Early Day Motion 1770 which was in support of freedom of religion and in particular that of ex-Muslims.
  • Michael Fallon (MP for Sevenoaks) - is for the reduction of abortion time limits against scientific and medical consensus, is a supporter of homeopathy, and supported now defunct blasphemy laws.
  • Mark Field (MP for Cities of London and Westminster) - climate change denier, against evidence-based policy, is strongly for the reduction of abortion time limits against scientific and medical consensus, and supports homeopathy.
  • Mark Francois (MP for Rayleigh) - is for the reduction of abortion time limits against scientific and medical consensus, is a supporter of homeopathy, and supported now defunct blasphemy laws.
  • Robert Goodwill (MP for Scarborough and Whitby) - is for the reduction of abortion time limits against scientific and medical consensus, is a strong supporter of homeopathy, and is also a member of the Cornerstone Group, a faction within the Conservative Party that promotes Christian values.
  • James Gray (MP for North Wiltshire) - is for the reduction of abortion time limits against scientific and medical consensus, is a strong supporter of homeopathy, and supported now defunct blasphemy laws.
  • Chris Grayling (MP for Epsom and Ewell and Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor[4]) - introduced wildly unpopular changes to legal aid, removing in all but exceptional circumstances in cases of divorce, child contact, welfare benefits, employment, clinical negligence, and housing. Quoted as saying that Christian B&B owners should be allowed to turn away gay couples, though he did later row back from this and even supported the Same-Sex Marriage Act. But lawyers still hate him as much as he apparently hates them.
  • Damian Green (MP for Ashford and Minister of State for Borders and Immigration) - is for the reduction of abortion time limits against scientific and medical consensus, and is also a supporter of homeopathy.
  • Dominic Grieve (MP for Beaconsfield and Attorney General for England and Wales) - is for the reduction of abortion time limits against scientific and medical consensus, and is also a supporter of homeopathy.
  • Philip Hammond (MP for Runnymede and Weybridge and Secretary of State for Transport) - is for the reduction of abortion time limits against scientific and medical consensus, and is also a supporter of homeopathy.
  • Stephen Hammond (MP for Wimbledon) - is for the reduction of abortion time limits against scientific and medical consensus, and is also a supporter of homeopathy.
  • Greg Hands (MP for Chelsea and Fulham) - is for the reduction of abortion time limits against scientific and medical consensus, is a supporter of homeopathy, in support of faith schools (particularly Christian ones), and is also a member of the Cornerstone Group, a faction within the Conservative Party that promotes Christian values.
  • Mark Harper (MP for Forest of Dean) - is for the reduction of abortion time limits against scientific and medical consensus, believes that power lines can cause childhood leukaemia, is wary of libel reform and is also a supporter of homeopathy.
  • Charles Hendry (MP for Wealden and Minister of State for the Department of Energy and Climate Change) - is for the reduction of abortion time limits against scientific and medical consensus, and is also a supporter of homeopathy.
  • Adam Holloway (MP for Gravesham) - is for the reduction of abortion time limits against scientific and medical consensus, is a supporter of homeopathy, and is also a member of the Cornerstone Group, a faction within the Conservative Party that promotes Christian values.
  • Jeremy Hunt (MP for South West Surrey and Secretary of State for Health) - is a supporter of homeopathy for the reduction of abortion time limits against scientific and medical consensus, and is against embryological human/animal hybrid experiments.
  • David Jones (MP for Clwyd West and Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Wales) - is for the reduction of abortion time limits against scientific and medical consensus, is a supporter of homeopathy, supported now defunct blasphemy laws, and is also a member of the Cornerstone Group, a faction within the Conservative Party that promotes Christian values.
  • Daniel Kawczynski (MP for Shrewsbury and Atcham) - is for the reduction of abortion time limits against scientific and medical consensus, is a strong supporter of homeopathy, supported now defunct blasphemy laws, and is also a member of the Cornerstone Group, a faction within the Conservative Party that promotes Christian values.
  • Eleanor Laing (MP for Epping Forest) - is strongly for the reduction of abortion time limits against scientific and medical consensus, and is a supporter of homeopathy.
  • Mark Lancaster (MP for Milton Keynes North) - supporter of homeopathy.
  • Edward Leigh (MP for Gainsborough) - is strongly for the reduction of abortion time limits against scientific and medical consensus, is a strong supporter of homeopathy, for the exclusion of faith-based adoption agencies from the Equality Act so that they may discriminate against homosexual couples, supported now defunct blasphemy laws, and is also a member of the Cornerstone Group, a faction within the Conservative Party that promotes Christian values. In addition to this Leigh is particularly scientifically illiterate even for a Conservative, he is strongly against embryonic research (not just stem cell research) claiming "There is no overwhelming, or indeed any large-scale body of scientific evidence to suggest that this research that does cross this ultimate boundary between humans and animals will actually cure anything." in regards to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill. Leigh went onto show some views in line with baraminology when he said "I don't believe in my soul or my brain I'm 80 per cent a mouse or 30 per cent a daffodil. But I do think that we are special and, therefore, as the human race is special it is different from the animal race and I think that we should take this very seriously." Leigh also doesn't seem to value separation of church and state all that much when remarked that: "There is also a view, is there not, that politicians should keep out of the Church and out of religion? Was it not rather depressing when the former Prime Minister, Tony Blair, said that he could not talk about religion when he was the Prime Minister for fear of being called a nutter? Is that view changing? The current Prime Minister mentioned the story of the good Samaritan in his speech to Congress, and Delia Smith is doing a blog on the Catholic Fund for Overseas Development website. Does my hon. Friend think that politicians should speak out and talk about their faith in a natural way, as he is doing?"
  • Peter Lilley (MP for Hitchin and Harpenden) - climate change denier and is for the reduction of abortion time limits against scientific and medical consensus.
  • Tim Loughton (MP for East Worthing and Shoreham and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Children and Families) - is for the reduction of abortion time limits against scientific and medical consensus, and is a supporter of homeopathy.
  • Peter Luff (MP for Mid Worcestershire) - strong supporter of homeopathy.
  • Anne Main (MP for St Albans) - is strongly for the reduction of abortion time limits against scientific and medical consensus, and is a strong supporter of homeopathy.
  • Patrick Mercer (MP for Newark) - supporter of homeopathy.
  • Andrew Mitchell (MP for Sutton Coldfield and Secretary of State for International Development) - supporter of homeopathy.
  • Bob Neill (MP for Bromley and Chislehurst and Deputy Chairman for Local Government) - is for the reduction of abortion time limits against scientific and medical consensus, is a supporter of homeopathy, and supported now defunct blasphemy laws.
  • Brooks Newmark (MP for Braintree) - is strongly for the reduction of abortion time limits against scientific and medical consensus, is a supporter of homeopathy, and for the exclusion of faith-based adoption agencies from the Equality Act so that they may discriminate against homosexual couples. In 2009, Newmark introduced a Private Member Bill to lower the cervical cancer screening age to 20 based on sensationalist reporting by the Sun newspaper, against the evidence provided by the British Medical Journal showing that screening in women age 20-24 had little to no impact.
  • Richard Ottaway (MP for Croydon South) - against evidence/reason based policy, is a strong supporter of homeopathy and is strongly for the reduction of abortion time limits against scientific and medical consensus.
  • James Paice (MP for South East Cambridgeshire and Minister of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) - is for the reduction of abortion time limits against scientific and medical consensus, is a supporter of homeopathy and also appears to be ignorant and reactionary towards GM crops, which is rather unfortunate as he is after all the Minister of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
  • Mike Penning (MP for Hemel Hempstead) - is a supporter of homeopathy and is strongly for the reduction of abortion time limits against scientific and medical consensus. Also in 2009, Penning put forward an Early Day Motion in favour of vitamin supplements in reaction to EU legislation curbing unnecessary and potentially harmful vitamin supplements from being sold in the EU.
  • Mark Prisk (MP for Hertford and Stortford and Minister of State for the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills) - supporter of homeopathy.
  • John Redwood (MP for Wokingham) - climate change denier, is for the reduction of abortion time limits against scientific and medical consensus. Redwood is also a member of the Cornerstone Group, a faction within the Conservative Party that promotes Christian values. Nicknamed "the Vulcan" for his inability to display any kind of emotion.
  • Malcolm Rifkind (MP for Kensington) - is a supporter of homeopathy and is for the reduction of abortion time limits against scientific and medical consensus. Stepped down from chairing the Intelligence and Security Committee because of his involvement in the "cash for access" scandal in early 2015 and announced he would not stand in the 2015 election.[5]
  • Laurence Robertson (MP for Tewkesbury) - is a supporter of homeopathy and is for the prohibition of abortion regardless of scientific and medical consensus, as evidenced by a bill he introduced in 2005 which failed to pass. Robertson is also a member of the Cornerstone Group, a faction within the Conservative Party that promotes Christian values.
  • David Ruffley (MP for Bury St Edmunds) - is a supporter of homeopathy, and supported now defunct blasphemy laws.
  • Lee Scott (MP for Ilford North) - is for the reduction of abortion time limits against scientific and medical consensus, is a supporter of homeopathy, and is also a member of the Cornerstone Group, a faction within the Conservative Party that promotes Christian values.
  • Andrew Selous (MP for South West Bedfordshire) - is for the reduction of abortion time limits against scientific and medical consensus, is a supporter of homeopathy, for the exclusion of faith-based adoption agencies from the Equality Act so that they may discriminate against homosexual couples, and supported now defunct blasphemy laws. In addition to this Selous is a trustee of the Christian Conservative Fellowship, an organisation wishing to promote Christians in the Conservative Party and increase the parties' Christian membership. Selous is sits on the 'Council of Reference' for the group Prayers For Parliament, a group which asserts that "the real power to change this land rests not in 10 Downing Street or in the Palace of Westminster. It rests wherever you bow your head in prayer to the Almighty God who is sovereign over all."
  • Richard Shepherd (MP for Aldridge-Brownhills) - is for the reduction of abortion time limits against scientific and medical consensus, and is a supporter of homeopathy.
  • Keith Simpson (MP for Broadland) - is for the reduction of abortion time limits against scientific and medical consensus, and is a supporter of homeopathy.
  • Nicholas Soames (MP for Mid Sussex) - is for the reduction of abortion time limits against scientific and medical consensus, is a supporter of homeopathy, and for the exclusion of faith-based adoption agencies from the Equality Act so that they may discriminate against homosexual couples.
  • Gary Streeter (MP for South West Devon) - is for the reduction of abortion time limits against scientific and medical consensus, is a strong supporter of homeopathy, and for the exclusion of faith-based adoption agencies from the Equality Act so that they may discriminate against homosexual couples. In addition to this, Streeter is a former trustee of the Conservative Christian Fellowship, an organisation allied with the Conservative Party that wishes to increase the number of Christians within the Conservative Party. Streeter was also one of a number of MPs who registered their employment of interns from the Christian charity group Christian Action, Research and Education (CARE), described by the Independent as a 'right wing Christian group'.
  • Desmond Swayne (MP for New Forest West and member of the Ecclesiastical Committee) - is for the reduction of abortion time limits against scientific and medical consensus, is a supporter of homeopathy, and supported now defunct blasphemy laws. Swayne is also one of fifteen MPs appointed to the Ecclesiastical Committee, which considers measures passed by the General Synod of the Church of England.
  • Robert Syms (MP for Poole) - is for the reduction of abortion time limits against scientific and medical consensus, and is a supporter of homeopathy.
  • David Tredinnick (MP for Bosworth) - supporter of astrology, strong supporter of homeopathy, radionics, herbal medicine, and for the exclusion of faith-based adoption agencies from the Equality Act so that they may discriminate against homosexual couples.[6]
  • Edward Vaizey (MP for Wantage and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, with responsibilities for Architecture and Heritage) - is for the reduction of abortion time limits against scientific and medical consensus, and is a strong supporter of homeopathy.
  • Charles Walker (MP for Broxbourne) - is for the reduction of abortion time limits against scientific and medical consensus, is a supporter of homeopathy, for the exclusion of faith-based adoption agencies from the Equality Act so that they may discriminate against homosexual couples, and is also a member of the Cornerstone Group, a faction within the Conservative Party that promotes Christian values.
  • Ben Wallace (MP for Wyre and Preston North) - is for the reduction of abortion time limits against scientific and medical consensus, and is a supporter of homeopathy.
  • Robert Walter (MP for North Dorset) - is for the reduction of abortion time limits against scientific and medical consensus, is a strong supporter of homeopathy, and for the exclusion of faith-based adoption agencies from the Equality Act so that they may discriminate against homosexual couples.
  • Angela Watkinson (MP for Hornchurch and Upminster) - was a former member of the Monday Club; known for its voluntary "repatriation" of non-white immigrants, and has consistently voted against gay equality rights as well as the banning of hunting foxes.
  • John Whittingdale (MP for Maldon) - is a strong supporter of homeopathy, and is also a member of the Cornerstone Group, a faction within the Conservative Party that promotes Christian values. In addition to this, in March 2007 it was reported that Whittingdale, in a speech to the Incorporated Society of British Advertisers, had suggested that advertisers should make the argument that a ban on advertising "junk" food during children's television could "have a damaging effect on children's broadcasting that will lead to money going out of it."
  • Robert Wilson (MP for Reading East and member of the Science and Technology Select Committee) - is for the reduction of abortion time limits against scientific and medical consensus, is a strong supporter of homeopathy, is a supporter of Chinese medicine, is wary of libel reform, and has conflicting views on evidence based policy, which is quite promising as he is a member of the Science and Technology Select Committee.
  • Jeremy Wright (MP for Kenilworth and Southam) - is for the reduction of abortion time limits against scientific and medical consensus, and is a supporter of homeopathy. In March 2010, Wright abstained from voting on The Conditional Fee Agreements (Amendment) Order 2010, which would have limited success fees to lawyers to 10%. In addition to this, Wright is a supporter of unnecessarily high dose vitamin supplements as evidenced by a page on his website claiming "Products such as 1 gram Vitamin C tablets that are frequently used in the cold season; and the mineral Boron, important for strong bones and teeth, are set to become illegal once European laws passed recently are fully introduced."
  • Tim Yeo (MP for South Suffolk and Chairman of the Environmental Audit Select Committee) - supporter of homeopathy, one would hope he doesn't apply the same logic to environmental issues.

[edit] Tory candidates

  • Philippa Stroud (unsuccessful MP candidate in 2010, but influential activist) - founded a church which (allegedly) attempts to "cure" homosexuality. This was the centre of some media controversy shortly before the election.

[edit] External links

[edit] Footnotes

  1. http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/cristinaodone/100038977/tory-insider-some-hissing-from-the-backwoodsmen-but-not-one-senior-figure-is-opposing-camerons-deal/
  2. The Conservative Party answers questions about its science policy
  3. http://www.parliament.uk/edm/2006-07/1240
  4. The first non-lawyer to hold that position for 440 years.
  5. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-22936684
  6. Skeptical Voter - David Tredinnick
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