starter activity

You will be given a series of cards charting the evolution of the Labour Party. Sort them on a sheet of A4 paper. On the paper, next to each card write the approximate date of the event. Extension task. Which event was the turning point?

What are the What are the ideological ideological differences differences between the between the

parties? (Cons)parties? (Cons)To be able to explain the origin, To be able to explain the origin,

ideological characteristics and recent ideological characteristics and recent policy changes within the Conservative policy changes within the Conservative

PartyPartyTo compare the similarities & To compare the similarities &

differences between the modern day differences between the modern day Labour & Conservative partiesLabour & Conservative parties

Learning objectives

Your taskYour task

Read p.83-7 and note down the Read p.83-7 and note down the following in your table:following in your table: Origins and early history of the Origins and early history of the

ConservativesConservatives Party ideologyParty ideology Recent developmentsRecent developments

Extension. Can you spot any Extension. Can you spot any similarities between Conservatives similarities between Conservatives and other political parties?and other political parties?

OriginsOrigins Opposed to radical reformOpposed to radical reform & violent & violent

change, e.g. opposed French Revolution, change, e.g. opposed French Revolution, Edmund Burke – father of modern Edmund Burke – father of modern conservatismconservatism

Supported national institutions & Supported national institutions & traditionstraditions, e.g. monarchy & parliament, e.g. monarchy & parliament

Belief in firm governmentBelief in firm government and law & and law & orderorder

PragmaticPragmatic – need to win elections by – need to win elections by appealing to broad range of people led to appealing to broad range of people led to 66 years in power in C20th 66 years in power in C20th

Edmund Burke

Party ideologyParty ideology One Nation ConservatismOne Nation Conservatism – origins – origins

Disraeli; preservation of NHS & Welfare Disraeli; preservation of NHS & Welfare State; consensus politicsState; consensus politics

Economic liberalismEconomic liberalism – free market – free market economics; ‘rolling back the frontiers of economics; ‘rolling back the frontiers of the state’; growth of New Right in USA the state’; growth of New Right in USA (Reagan)(Reagan)

ThatcherismThatcherism – anti-trades unions; – anti-trades unions; privatisation of state-owned industries; privatisation of state-owned industries; anti-communist (Cold War)anti-communist (Cold War)

Thatcherite legacyThatcherite legacy – successors struggled – successors struggled to move away from her influence, including to move away from her influence, including John Major, Hague, IDS & Michael Howard John Major, Hague, IDS & Michael Howard

Recent developmentsRecent developments

Compassionate ConservatismCompassionate Conservatism – – Cameron’s ‘hug a hoody’ & green Cameron’s ‘hug a hoody’ & green credentialscredentials

RepositioningRepositioning – move towards centre – move towards centre ground, ‘heir to Blair’, support for ground, ‘heir to Blair’, support for frontline public services, e.g NHS, frontline public services, e.g NHS, pupil premiumpupil premium

Big SocietyBig Society – reduction in size of – reduction in size of state; ‘broken society’ rhetoricstate; ‘broken society’ rhetoric

Extension taskExtension task

Visit the Conservative Party website Visit the Conservative Party website and get the latest updates on and get the latest updates on Conservative policy on:Conservative policy on:

EducationEducation Public servicesPublic services The economy, e.g. tackling the deficitThe economy, e.g. tackling the deficit Foreign policyForeign policy Big SocietyBig Society

Your taskYour task Imagine you are holding a press Imagine you are holding a press

conference with Margaret Thatcher. conference with Margaret Thatcher. Choose someone to represent the Choose someone to represent the Iron Lady. The rest of you should Iron Lady. The rest of you should think of appropriate questions to ask think of appropriate questions to ask her using your role cards.her using your role cards.

HomeworkHomework

Complete the reading activities on Complete the reading activities on the article from ‘Politics Review’the article from ‘Politics Review’

Cameron – compassionate Conservatism?

PlenaryPlenary

Origins of Origins of Conservative Party?Conservative Party?

Impact of Thatcher?Impact of Thatcher? Recent Recent

developments?developments? Extension. Do you Extension. Do you

think Thatcher was think Thatcher was a good or bad thing a good or bad thing for British politics/for British politics/