Conservative Party
The Conservative Party is a political party in the United Kingdom.
Contents
History
The party is largely a successor of the earlier Tories. This earlier party was characterized by a lack of centralization; many members of the Commons labeled themselves as 'Tory', but they had no common platform.
Peel invented the identity of 'Conservative' in the Tamworth Manifesto, a campaign pamphlet he released to his own constituency in late 1834 leading into the January 1835 elections. It amounted to accepting Grey's reforms and promising close examination of other reform demands; it was a conciliatory and moderate platform. Over the course of the next decade, especially among newly elected members, those in Peel's faction began to label themselves 'Conservative' instead of 'Tory'. His second term as prime minister beginning in 1841 is definitively labeled as a Conservative government.
The Conservatives almost immediately fragmented over the repeal of the Corn Laws. A protectionist faction led by Disraeli led a backbench revolt that contributed strongly towards Peel's resignation. The so-called Peelites would merge with the Whigs and Radicals in 1859 to establish the Liberals instead.
During World War 1, the Conservatives agreed to join coalition under the Liberal government (led by Asquith and then George). Even following the end of the war, George was overwhelmingly popular, so the coalition was continued. Law resigned from both his ministry and leadership of the Conservatives in 1921 due to health; leaving the latter to Chamberlain. By 1922 however, Conservative discontent had grown substantially. A backbench revolt known as the Carlton Club meeting coordinated a withdrawal of confidence in the government, forced all members serving in the coalition government to resign, and ultimately triggered new elections. Law returned to lead the party into these elections, which they won outright. Nearly all coalitionists were sidelined; with new leaders such as Baldwin emerging. Law's health again forced him to resign the next year, and he died shortly after. Baldwin succeeded him as PM and party leader. The cohort of Conservatives that were elected in 1922 established the backbench 1922 Committee, which now serves as the mechanism for party leadership elections.