Contemporary Conservative Party Ideologies & Policies

2010-2015 Cameron Government

• social progression

• austerity

• Europe issue division

• Socially progressive - introduced same-sex marriage, promoting Big Society, introducing a new National Citizen Service to engage young people in their community 

• Austerity programme in response to the global financial crisis -  reductions in welfare spending, the cancellation of school building programs, reductions in local government funding, and an increase in VAT e.g. The 2012 Welfare Reform Act led to cuts in multiple welfare benefits, including child benefits, housing benefits and disability living allowance

The Europe Issue Division:

• The Conservatives have had a Eurosceptic tradition since the 1970s, represented in recent years by the European Research Group (ERG)

• Pressure from the ERG led to Camerin calling the election and subsequent prime ministers remaining ideologically committed to Brexit

Johnson Government:

• levelling up

• public funding

• social care reform

• ‘Levelling up’ programme - large scale spending projects e.g. HS2, extra £36 billion over 3 years for the NHS, increase in corporation tax from 19% to 25%

• Extra public funding to recruit 20,000 extra police officers 

• On 7 September 2021 Johnson announced plans for social care reforms, including a 1.25% rise in National Insurance to raise £36 billion over three years, and a cap of £86,000 on lifetime care costs in England

Truss and Sunak’s Government:

• corporation tax, national insurance and top rate of taxation

• Truss attempted to dramatically lower corporation tax back to 19%, reverse the 1.25% increase in National Insurance, abandon the 45% top rate of taxation 

• Some argue Truss is more Thatcherite due to tax cuts 

• Others argue Truss lacks Thatcherite emphasis on balancing the budget (Truss higher borrowing)

• Sunak reversed these policies - adopted higher tax economic policies more similar to Johnson government

Conservatives in conflict:

• since Cameron’s resignation

Since Cameron’s 2016 resignation, there have been many divisions within the party over key issues: 

• Truss willing to borrow to finance tax cuts and avoid public spending cuts whereas Johnson & Sunak have maintained higher taxes to maintain public services spending 

• Cameron committed to being more socially progressive whereas home secretaries since have been more harsh e.g. Priti Patel & Suella Braverman 

• Cameron more committed to environmental protection, Truss ended the ban on fracking and wanted to expand North Sea gas and oil extraction, Sunak immediately reimposed the ban on fracking 

Modern day conservative policies:

• Economy

• One nation/ Thatcherite

Modern day conservative policies:

• Welfare

• One nation/ Thatcherite

Modern day conservative policies:

• Law and order

• Thatcherite

Modern day conservative policies:

• Foreign affairs

• Thatcherite