The Conservative party has embraced many different and contrasting ideological policies, from Toryism to the New Right to Thatcherism to One Nation conservatism. Each policy differs from core conservatism and in effect, its preference of pragmatism over principle. Classical conservatism favoured a pragmatic approach rather than the core ideologies of conservatism. Edmund Burke famously quoted; 'a state which doesn’t change cannot conserve'. This means that if a government doesn’t change to help society, then the poor will take action.
Thatcherites were extremely traditional in their view of the constitution and political system. Modern conservatives now accept that constitutional reform is essential and that the political system needs a good deal of democratic renewal. Although tax cuts are part of the ‘Cameron agenda’ in the long run, the modern party accepts that tax cutting should not be part of a dogmatic ideology, but instead should only be undertaken when the economic conditions are favourable. In general Cameron’s Conservative party is more adaptable and pragmatic, whereas Thatcherism was a more fixed, dogma with fixed principles. The following points could be seen as ways in which the modern Conservative Party retains Thatcherite ideas.
Margret Thatcher was Prime minister from 1979 to 1990. Throughout these years, her way of governing was very aggressive; this style and the policies linked to it became known as Thatcherism. Thatcherismâs main aim was to reduce the role of the state in public services and within the economy; having a lot of faith in individualism. This word, âindividualismâ, means that every person should provide for their family and be responsible for their own wellbeing; it was evident that Mrs Thatcher supported the concept of independence and self-reliance as well as free-markets and a privatised economy. However, David Cameronâs alterations are aiming to move the Tories away from their typical right wing stance and into the centre of politics.
Liberalism was drawn from the age of enlightenment in which many religious restrictions were broken in order for meritocracy to strive which allowed individuals to strive on their own basis. The main party that stands for liberalism within Britain is the Liberal Democrat party which is lead by Nick Clegg however parties such as Labour and the Conservatives have strong relations with Liberalism which is evident through their leadership style and manifesto proposals. One of the most leading styles of modern liberalism that is displayed in British politics at current times is the development of the welfare state which provides people with education and healthcare but also provides benefits for those who are unable to work for various reasons. The welfare state was originally introduced in 1911 as a result of a range of reforms due to investigation in to the living conditions of ordinary British citizens. The national insurance act was enacted by David Lloyd George and the liberal party and it meant that contributions were made to assist those who were unemployed or unable to work.
Democracy is essentially the idea of rule by the people, for the people and of the people and therefore governing in the public interest; it would be hard to see many liberals going against the idea of democracy itself, whilst criticisms of it are also not rare. Firstly, one can see that the origins of Liberalism came from the rationalism of the Enlightenment and emergence of market capitalism leading to the events which marked liberal history; the American and French revolutions. The Americans were seeking refuge from the British Crown and the French from undemocratic institutions. Freedom was the first goal of both countries and mainly focused on freedom from oppression and arbitrary rule. The idea of freedom and pursuing democracy is especially pushed within classical liberalism and this can be seen through thinkers such as John Locke who envisioned individuals as being free and equal, having given consent to the government and therefore authority deriving from them not the people above.
The main focus of liberalism is liberty and freedom, there are two types of liberalism classical and new liberalism, this therefore determines the type of liberty they want to achieve. Firstly liberals have a fear that some potential consequences of government such as no legitimate authority, the tendency for power to become concentrated in too few hands and the democratic systems may simply become the tyranny of the majority. Through this fear they offer a solution through the liberal constitution, it defines the right of citizens which could be a safeguard against encroachments by governments, distributes power among different institutions of government to prevent the concentration of power. These are only a few of many. By combining the doctrines of government by consent and constitutionalism, modern liberals have found a way of reconciling effective government with the right and freedoms of both the individual and intermediate groups.
‘Liberal Democrats are suspicious of state power, yet support big government in the pursuit of economic management and social reform’ The liberal democrats were formed in 1988 from The Social Democrat party, set up by four ex labour members. Currently the liberal democrats have formed a coalition government with the Conservatives. Classical liberals traditionally believe in negative liberty when it comes to state power (The idea that the state should have as little intervention as possible, socially and economically to enhance the freedom and innovation of the individual, therefore not infringing basic, natural rights). Classical Liberals prefer to keep the state to a minimum however with enough framework to provide basic laws prohibiting other regarding actions and to regulate government power. These views where portrayed by many liberal philosophers such as Adam Smith, in regards to economic management; he believed that free trade and free markets where fundamental to successful economic growth, as individuals, consumers and business would create competition and feel confident within the economy.
With this way, the self-interest ambition of one branch will counter the ambition of other branches just like James Madison wrote in federalist no. 51 that “Ambition…be made to counteract ambition”. And basing upon on the pluralist theory that the power in society is distributed among those interest group that compete with one another to take control of public policy. One more time, the Constitution has the control to limit these groups to avoid violence and aggression cause by these factions. Therefore, by using majoritarian principle and pluralist theory, James Madison affirmed that Republican has the power to control the faction’s effect better than
Sandel argues that Democracy attempts to be grounded in this neutral state which allows tolerance of many religious and moral convictions and thus excludes the influences that our individual moral and religious convictions have upon us in political debate. Sandel’s first attacks this way of democracy by claiming the principles of a liberal democracy are moral convictions; freedom, tolerance, and equality are all moral convictions based in Liberalism. Since Liberalism states it respects all values, making no moral judgments, but has principles which are moral values it has created a contradiction within itself and cannot be used as a governing philosophy. He then continues to state that a person cannot separate their moral convictions from themselves in debate and should not. Humans’ personalities and way of life is greatly influenced by our moral convictions so to have discussion about how humans should live together without taking into consideration what shapes us, is not only a mistake, but it is impossible.
Old Labour, the traditional socialist representation of the labour party, presented many socialist views, such as cradle-to-grave welfare and social justice. They also opposed such views as a free-market economy, much preferring to regulate and set quotas for it. Old Labour was the standing of the Labour Party since their founding in the early 20th century. Since then, the party has undertaken a radical change, through the conception of Neil Kinnock and the branding of Tony Blair, to become the centre-left party that we’ve come to know as New Labour. New Labour govern with a pragmatic stance, concentrating on making practical decisions that influence the UK, as oppose to Old Labour who were ideological, and looked at the best ways in which to manage society and react to current events.