Conservatives united?

• Introduction: This essay will reject the statement and argued that they are more divided on topics such as the economy, law and order, and welfare
• Paragraph 1 : Economy

  Point: After returning to power in 2010, they are united on the economy.  Firmly wedded to the power of the market forces and private property to drive wealth creation and retention and remain pragramatic over economic policy.

  • Argue that party expenditure, both factions stress, must be kept under control and trade union power must be curbed
• Paragraph 1 : Economy

  • Example: 2019 manifesto promised not to raise national insurance contributions, VAT and income tax
  • Party lifted bankers bonus cap in october 2022
• Paragraph 1 : Economy

  Signficance : 2019 manifesto emphasised the importance of using aspiration to unleash enterprise and remained committed to the tax cuts of the cameron. Underlying Thatcherite principles run deep within the the party
• Paragraph 1 Counter:

  Point: One nation faction within the conservative party, regarding the economy, is strongly concerned with social cohesion. One nation conservatives firmly believe the state plays an important role in promoting economic growth, encouraging a mixed economy with mild intervention to support a welfare state. On the other hand, the new right members of the party hold a more ideological approach, driven by faith in the free market and self interest. The welfare state creates dependency.
• Paragraph 1 Counter:

  Example:

  •  New right in the party pushing for tax cuts to promote growth as seen as Truss budget in october 2022
  • One nation rejecting unfunded tax cuts that truss proposed due to their impact on public services which would have to endure further cuts to pay for those tax cuts.
  • 2021 the party broke its campaign pledge and raised NI to pay for the backlog in the NHS after COVID
• Paragraph 1 Counter:

  Signficance: This shows the strong divide between an ideological pursuit on the other hand of the low tax economy and a pragmatist approach on the other to solving the issue with public services. Some policies, such as Truss gov introducing energy price caps to tackle rising costs fit in the one nation belief of a fixed economy with some state intervention. 
• Paragraph 2: Welfare - United

  Point: Modern Conservatives agree welfare should be minimal and encourage work rather than creating reliance.

  • Strong focus on cutting benefits—particularly housing benefits—to reduce state dependency.
• Paragraph 2: Welfare - United

  Example:

  • October 2021: Cut universal credit by £20 per week and resisted pressure to increase benefits in line with inflation.

  Significance:

  • Shows unity around Thatcherite principles—strong preference for market-driven solutions rather than an expansive welfare state.
  • Ideological consistency between different factions over the years, showing that the party broadly shares the same stance on welfare policy.
• Counter-Argument 2: Welfare - Divided

  Point:

  • One Nation Conservatives see welfare as a moral duty, rooted in noblesse oblige, while New Right sees it as promoting dependency.
  • Internal party tensions over whether to prioritize the poor (One Nation) or economic efficiency (New Right).
• Counter-Argument 2: Welfare - Divided

  Example:

  • COVID response: Johnson’s government wrote off hospital debt to support the NHS—aligning with One Nation beliefs.
  • May’s “Just About Managing” rhetoric showed concern for lower-income voters.
  • Sunak’s spending squeeze on public services has alienated One Nation MPs, especially in Red Wall seats, who rely on funding for reelection.
• Counter-Argument 2: Welfare - Divided

  Example:

  • COVID response: Johnson’s government wrote off hospital debt to support the NHS—aligning with One Nation beliefs.
  • May’s “Just About Managing” rhetoric showed concern for lower-income voters.
  • Sunak’s spending squeeze on public services has alienated One Nation MPs, especially in Red Wall seats, who rely on funding for reelection.
• Counter-Argument 2: Welfare - Divided

  • Sunak’s technocratic, non-ideological approach fails to unify the party.
  • The divide is evident in Red Wall MPs (seeking investment) vs. Blue Wall MPs (opposing higher taxation to fund it).

  Evaluation:

  • More divided than united—though welfare isn’t the party’s most contentious issue, there is a clear split between One Nation support for state intervention and New Right economic self-reliance
• Argument 3: Law and Order - United

  Point:

  • Conservatives broadly follow a Thatcherite, authoritarian approach to law and order.
  • Party identity as the “party of law and order”, with strong support for tough policing and state authority.

  Example:

  • COVID lockdowns: United response with strict enforcement and penalties.
  • Immigration policy: Rwanda deportation scheme and Illegal Immigration Bill backed by Sunak and Braverman.
• Argument 3: Law and Order - United

  Significance:

  • Strong New Right influence on law and order policy, showing continued commitment to authoritarian principles.
  • The party’s law-and-order stance remains largely consistent, showing ideological unity.
• Counter-Argument 3: Law and Order - Divided

  Point:

  • One Nation Conservatives believe in rehabilitation over punishment, contrasting with the harsh punitive stance of New Right MPs.
  • Immigration policy divides moderates (concerned about safe asylum routes) from hardliners (wanting the UK to leave the ECHR to enforce deportations).
• Counter-Argument 3: Law and Order - Divided

  Example:

  • Rory Stewart (2019 leadership candidate) emphasized rehabilitation over punishment.
  • Ken Clarke (Cameron-era Justice Secretary) opposed harsh sentencing, stating “prison doesn’t work.”
  • Sunak’s anti-social behaviour plan shows a shift back towards punitive measures, but fails to unify all factions.

  Significance:

  • Deep divisions in approaches to crime and immigration, highlighting differences in views on human nature and government intervention.
  • One Nation’s compassionate conservatism clashes with New Right’s tough-on-crime stance.
• Counter-Argument 3: Law and Order - Divided

  Evaluation:

  • More divided than united—law and order policies reflect deep ideological differences between authoritarian New Right and more liberal One Nation MPs.
• Conclusion

  • The Conservative Party is more divided than united.
  • Multiple party leaders in recent years have led to ideological inconsistencies.
  • Economy (deepest division): Johnson moved the party left, but Sunak and Truss reversed course, creating internal conflict.
  • Welfare: A moderate divide exists between One Nation’s enabling state vs. New Right’s minimal safety net.
  • Law and order: While the party agrees broadly on a strong state approach, divisions exist over rehabilitation vs. punishment and the handling of immigration.