One Conservative social policy: from conviction to coalition
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Hugh Bochel
Abstract
This chapter examines the development of Conservative Party social policy while in opposition and the challenges posed to the Conservatives by New Labour governments. It shows the degree to which David Cameron’s Conservative Party has left behind its ‘nasty party’ image and broken from its Thatcherite past is a matter of contention. It observes that its performance in the 2010 General Election was modest given the extent of the economic crisis and the unpopularity of Gordon Brown’s Labour government. It notes that the lack of an outright majority has brought the Party into coalition with a Liberal Democratic Party, form enthusiastic support for economic liberalism favoured by the Orange Book wing of the Party to those with a social democratic bent. It notes the longevity and policies of the Coalition will be affected by these ideological issues, by electoral calculations on both sides and by the success or otherwise of its economic policies.
Abstract
This chapter examines the development of Conservative Party social policy while in opposition and the challenges posed to the Conservatives by New Labour governments. It shows the degree to which David Cameron’s Conservative Party has left behind its ‘nasty party’ image and broken from its Thatcherite past is a matter of contention. It observes that its performance in the 2010 General Election was modest given the extent of the economic crisis and the unpopularity of Gordon Brown’s Labour government. It notes that the lack of an outright majority has brought the Party into coalition with a Liberal Democratic Party, form enthusiastic support for economic liberalism favoured by the Orange Book wing of the Party to those with a social democratic bent. It notes the longevity and policies of the Coalition will be affected by these ideological issues, by electoral calculations on both sides and by the success or otherwise of its economic policies.
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents iii
- Notes on contributors v
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Symposium on the Coalition government
- Conservative social policy: from conviction to coalition 7
- Something old and blue, or red, bold and new? Welfare reform and the Coalition government 25
- The Conservative Party and the ‘Big Society’ 45
- The age of responsibility: social policy and citizenship in the early 21st century 63
- Debating the ‘death tax’: the politics of inheritance tax in the UK 85
- The debate about public service occupational pension reform 103
- Welfare to work after the recession: from the New Deals to the Work Programme 127
- Lone parents and the Conservatives: anything new? 147
- A treble blow? Child poverty in 2010 and beyond 165
- The English NHS as a market: challenges for the Coalition government 185
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Education in international context
- Citizenship education in international perspective: lessons from the UK and overseas 211
- “You’re only going to get it if you really shout for it”: education dispute resolution in the 21st century in England 233
- A sin of omission: New Zealand’s export education industry and foreign policy 257
- Student security in the global education market 281
- Exporting policy: the growth of multinational education policy businesses and new policy ‘assemblages’ 303
- Index 323
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents iii
- Notes on contributors v
-
Symposium on the Coalition government
- Conservative social policy: from conviction to coalition 7
- Something old and blue, or red, bold and new? Welfare reform and the Coalition government 25
- The Conservative Party and the ‘Big Society’ 45
- The age of responsibility: social policy and citizenship in the early 21st century 63
- Debating the ‘death tax’: the politics of inheritance tax in the UK 85
- The debate about public service occupational pension reform 103
- Welfare to work after the recession: from the New Deals to the Work Programme 127
- Lone parents and the Conservatives: anything new? 147
- A treble blow? Child poverty in 2010 and beyond 165
- The English NHS as a market: challenges for the Coalition government 185
-
Education in international context
- Citizenship education in international perspective: lessons from the UK and overseas 211
- “You’re only going to get it if you really shout for it”: education dispute resolution in the 21st century in England 233
- A sin of omission: New Zealand’s export education industry and foreign policy 257
- Student security in the global education market 281
- Exporting policy: the growth of multinational education policy businesses and new policy ‘assemblages’ 303
- Index 323
