Conservative Party

Overview

The Conservative Party, widely known as the Tories, is one of the two largest political parties in the United Kingdom and has historically been the most electorally successful party in the democratic world. It stands on the centre-right of British politics. After fourteen years in government, it lost the 2024 general election heavily and is now the official opposition, led by Kemi Badenoch, the first Black leader of a major British party.

Conservatism in Britain is less a fixed doctrine than a disposition, favouring gradual change over radical reform, respect for established institutions, free enterprise, and a strong nation state. Over time the party has combined economic liberalism with social and national conservatism in varying measures.

History

The party's roots lie in the Tory tradition of the eighteenth century, with the modern party usually dated to Robert Peel's Tamworth Manifesto of 1834. It dominated much of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, producing prime ministers from Disraeli to Churchill.

Under Margaret Thatcher from 1979 the party embraced a programme of privatisation, deregulation, lower taxes, and a reduced role for the state, reshaping the British economy and the wider political consensus. It returned to power in 2010 and governed until 2024, a period that included the Brexit referendum of 2016 and Britain's departure from the European Union. Its heavy defeat in 2024, with losses to both Labour and Reform UK, prompted a search for direction under new leadership.

Economic Policy

The party generally favours free markets, lower taxes, and a smaller state, presenting itself as the party of business and fiscal discipline. It supports private enterprise and is cautious about high public spending and borrowing. In practice, Conservative governments have varied between more purely free-market approaches and more interventionist ones, but the broad instinct is toward market solutions and restraint in public spending.

Social Policy

On social and cultural questions the party is generally conservative, though it spans a range from liberal to traditionalist. Recent leaderships have emphasised stricter immigration control, law and order, and scepticism toward what they describe as progressive cultural trends. The party is strongly unionist, supporting the continued union of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

Foreign Policy

The Conservatives support NATO, a strong defence, and the nuclear deterrent. Since Brexit the party has emphasised an independent British foreign and trade policy outside the European Union. It generally favours close ties with the United States and other allies while resisting deeper political integration with Europe.

Where They Stand

• Favours free markets, lower taxes, and a smaller state
• Presents itself as the party of business and fiscal discipline
• Emphasises stricter immigration control and law and order
• Strongly supports the union of the United Kingdom
• Backs NATO, a strong defence, and the nuclear deterrent
• Supports an independent British trade and foreign policy after Brexit

Electoral Record

The party governed from 2010 to 2024 under a succession of prime ministers including David Cameron, Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, and Rishi Sunak. Its 2024 defeat was one of the worst in its history, reducing it to a much smaller group of MPs and putting it into competition with Reform UK for voters on the right.

Position on the Political Compass

Conservative Party sits on the right-leaning side on economics and is more authoritarian on questions of social freedom and authority.

These positions are approximate and meant as a guide. Take the test to see how your own views compare.

Key Figures

Sources and Further Reading

• Conservative Party (Wikipedia)en.wikipedia.org
• Official party websiteconservatives.com
• Electoral Commission registrationsearch.electoralcommission.org.uk

Other United Kingdom Parties