Conservative party

Origins of the party

• The origins lie in the Tory Grouping in Parliament which emerged during the Exclusion Crisis 1679-81.

• It emerged to oppose the Whig attempt to prevent the Catholic brother of Charles II, James II, from succeeding to the throne.

Significance of 1867

• Disraeli, the late nineteenth prime minister, recognised the need to reach out to these new groups of voters by expanding the franchise further in 1867, developing a new stand of Conservatism - One Nation Conservatism.

What have been the causes of division within the Conservative party?

• 1846 - The corn laws were protectionist measures that imposed tariffs on imported grain, which were seen as benefiting landowners (which were most of the conservatives voting numbers) at the expanse of the working and middle classes. Robert Peel’s decision to support the repeal caused significant rifting in the party.

• 1906 - Issue on tariff reforms to increase taxes on imports to domestic industries. This led free traders such as Churchill to defect to the liberals.

• 1886 - Issue which led to the influx of liberal unionists was the first attempt at an Irish home rule (devolution and self-governance).

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