UK Political Parties: Conservatives and Labour
The Conservative Party (Tories) has historically represented the interests of order and liberalism, while Labour (Whigs) has focused primarily on the welfare state and democratic socialism. The Conservative Party traditionally drew support from the middle and upper classes, whereas the Labour Party was rooted in the working class. The voting behavior of British Conservatives has allowed them to better utilize their electoral potential by leveraging middle and upper-class awareness. The significant number of votes from the middle classes, along with a notable portion of working-class voters, is another key factor that enabled a competitive electoral system from the end of World War II until the 1970 House of Commons elections.
Since 1974, the British electoral system has not fully adhered to a bipartisan model. The range of ideological tendencies has expanded, encompassing minority nationalist and socialist parties, in addition to Labour, Liberal Democrats, and Conservatives. Consequently, the number of candidates per constituency and election has increased. Since 1983, the Alliance parties (Liberals and SDP) have competed alongside the Conservatives and Labour in every division. The Scottish National Party has been present in all Scottish constituencies since 1974, and Plaid Cymru in all of Wales since 1970. Despite this, the House of Commons still largely reflects a bipartisan competition.
Evolution of Major Political Parties
The evolution of the main political parties throughout the 20th century demonstrates how Labour gradually shifted towards liberalism. This left only the Conservatives and Labour in the power struggle, despite the presence of other minor parties. The rise of the Labour Party in 1918 was facilitated by the decline of the Liberal Party. This decline stemmed from the discrediting of the Liberal Party regarding the issue of Irish self-government, coupled with a very reformist social policy from the perspective of the bourgeoisie prior to World War I. This led to a split between supporters of Lloyd George and Asquith, resulting in competing bids for power.
Since then, the Conservatives have established themselves as representatives of the bourgeois electorate. Concurrently, Labour increased its number of candidates per constituency while the Liberals’ numbers dwindled. By 1924, the Liberals held only a third of the seats in the Commons. Furthermore, the plurality system in single-member constituencies favored Labour.
The Labour Party’s Origins and Rise
The Labour Party emerged from the union of socialist groups and trade unions, with aims of equality and progress for the disadvantaged. The fusion of support and organizational bases, along with activism and organization in the constituencies, resulted in an alternative political force that captured working-class votes. In the postwar period, union votes helped Labour secure a parliamentary leadership that could rely on the support of the more radical left. However, the moderation of the nationalization program and the cautious actions of Labour governments between 1964 and 1968 led to dissent among some radical unions. This caused a split in the party, giving rise to leaders who formed a centrist Social Democratic Party, which was later absorbed by the Liberals. Labour suffered a heavy defeat in 1983.
In that decade, the emergence of the New Left within the Labour Party contributed to its success in 1997 under Tony Blair. Blair presented the image of a modern, united party, offering an alternative to the Conservative Party, which had been in power for thirteen years.
The Conservative Party’s Adaptability
The Conservative Party emerged from World War II as a moderate party. Its pragmatism and opportunism have enabled it to survive and hold power, either alone or in coalition, for two-thirds of the 20th century. The modern Conservative Party arose in the mid-19th century as a reform of the old Tory party. The defeat of 1945 demonstrated that the electorate favored policies promoting full employment and social protection. Consequently, the Conservatives modified their programs, shifting towards the left.
Until Margaret Thatcher, Conservative leaders held center-left positions, believing that maintaining the postwar consensus would foster political, economic, and social development. They advocated for full employment policies to attract working-class votes, upon which their success depended. Their values are associated with the idea of a strong state to ensure social order.