Changes

===1980s and 90s===

===1980s and 90s===

{{See also|Margaret Thatcher}}

{{See also|Margaret Thatcher}}

The modern British Conservative Party ran the United Kingdom for nearly 20 years, beginning with Margaret Thatcher's victory for the Party in 1979.  She came into office facing a British economy that had been crippled by industrial disputes, strikes, high unemployment, and collapsing public services, especially during the so-called 'Winter of Discontent' of 1978-9.  Mrs. Thatcher turned that around, broke the iron grip of the trade unions, and restored the British economy to a free enterprise system that has continued to this day.  She was succeeded by [[John Major]] in 1990, and, to the surprise of the media, Major won the general election in 1992 and extended the Conservative Party's power until 1997.   

The modern British Conservative Party ran the United Kingdom for nearly 20 years, beginning with Margaret Thatcher's victory for the Party in 1979.  She came into office facing a British economy that had been crippled by industrial disputes, strikes, high unemployment, and collapsing public services, especially during the so-called 'Winter of Discontent' of 1978–9.  Mrs. Thatcher turned that around, broke the iron grip of the trade unions, and restored the British economy to a free enterprise system that has continued to this day.  She was succeeded by [[John Major]] in 1990, and, to the surprise of the media, Major won the general election in 1992 and extended the Conservative Party's power until 1997.   

By 1997 the [[Labour Party]] had finally embraced the more conservative direction for the country and abandoned many of its socialist economic policies of the past. Economic difficulties, including a dispute over whether the UK should join the currency of the European Union, hurt the Conservative Party further. This was coupled with a perception that the party had become corrupt, with a number of high-profile members of the party being involved in financial and sexual scandals. The Labour Party won in a landslide in 1997 and held power until 2010.  

By 1997 the [[Labour Party]] had finally embraced the more conservative direction for the country and abandoned many of its socialist economic policies of the past. Economic difficulties, including a dispute over whether the UK should join the currency of the European Union, hurt the Conservative Party further. This was coupled with a perception that the party had become corrupt, with a number of high-profile members of the party being involved in financial and sexual scandals. The Labour Party won in a landslide in 1997 and held power until 2010.  

Theresa May became Prime Minister after Cameron. She initiated the formal Brexit process and called an early election to be held in June 2017.

Theresa May became Prime Minister after Cameron. She initiated the formal Brexit process and called an early election to be held in June 2017.

The Conservative Party shifted its public stances after the Brexit vote, adopting right-wing stances on Europe and immigration more similar to UKIP,<ref>Kentish, Ben (May 15, 2017). [http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/tory-voters-more-right-wing-ukip-poll-latest-theresa-may-nigel-farage-a7737491.html Tory voters think their party is now more right-wing than Ukip, poll finds]. ''The Independent''. Retrieved May 18, 2017.</ref> something noted by former UKIP leader [[Nigel Farage]].<ref name="MerrickMay2017">Merrick, Rob (May 7, 2017). [http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/election-latest-nigel-farage-theresa-may-stolen-ukip-policies-brussels-bashing-immigration-a7722346.html Nigel Farage says Theresa May is winning because she has stolen all his policies]. ''The Independent''. Retrieved May 7, 2017.</ref>This could be seen in the 2017 Conservative Party campaign manifesto, under Prime Minister [[Theresa May]], which adopted some of UKIP's EU and immigration policies.<ref>Montgomery, Jack (May 18, 2017). [https://www.breitbart.com/london/2017/05/18/may-reveals-polarising-policies-immigration-social-care/ Theresa May Launches Conservative Manifesto: Pledge to Leave EU Single Market, Elderly Care Cost Raid]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved May 18, 2017.</ref><ref name="RaynerMay2017">Rayner, Gordon (May 18, 2017). [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/05/18/conservative-manifesto-general-election-2017-key-points-policies/ Conservative manifesto for General Election 2017: Key points, policies and summary]. ''The Telegraph''. Retrieved May 18, 2017.</ref> Because of this shift, the Conservative Party absorbed many UKIP voters.<ref>Dickson, Annabelle (May 17, 2017). [https://www.politico.eu/article/theresa-may-marches-into-ukip-land/ Theresa May marches into UKIP country]. ''Politico''. Retrieved May 18, 2017.</ref> However, the manifesto also called for some forms of government expansion and additional social spending,<ref name="RaynerMay2017"/><ref>Edmunds, Donna Rachel (May 18, 2017). [https://www.breitbart.com/london/2017/05/18/conservatives-social-policy-biggest-stealth-tax-history/ Conservatives’ Social Policy is ‘Biggest Stealth Tax in History’]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved May 18, 2017.</ref> and the manifesto contained several worrisome pledges for conservatives and proponents of Brexit.<ref>Edmunds, Donna Rachel (May 18, 2017). [https://www.breitbart.com/london/2017/05/18/top-7-conservative-manifesto-pledges-to-worry-brexiteers/ Top 7 Conservative Manifesto Pledges to Worry Brexiteers]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved May 19, 2017.</ref> Additionally, the manifesto rejected individualism and "untrammeled free markets", and May rejected statements that she was like former Prime Minister [[Margaret Thatcher]] or that she would "drift to the Right."<ref>Hughes, Laura (May 18, 2017). [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/05/18/general-election-2017-latest-news-polls-analysis/ Theresa May rejects Margaret Thatcher comparisons and says her government 'will not drift to the right']. ''The Telegraph''. Retrieved May 18, 2017.</ref> Noting the Conservative Party's past failures to reduce immigration in the recent past, former Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne, now editor of the London Evening Standard, wrote an editorial at the time of the manifesto's release in May 2017 that the Conservative Party leadership opposed and never intended to keep its immigration reduction promises.<ref>Montgomery, Jack (May 17, 2017). [https://www.breitbart.com/london/2017/05/17/osborne-boasts-tories-never-intended-keep-immigration-promises/ Osborne Boasts Tories Never Intended to Keep Immigration Promises in Shock Editorial]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved May 18, 2017.</ref>

The Conservative Party shifted its public stances after the Brexit vote, adopting right-wing stances on Europe and immigration more similar to UKIP,<ref>Kentish, Ben (May 15, 2017). [http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/tory-voters-more-right-wing-ukip-poll-latest-theresa-may-nigel-farage-a7737491.html Tory voters think their party is now more right-wing than Ukip, poll finds]. ''The Independent''. Retrieved May 18, 2017.</ref> something noted by former UKIP leader [[Nigel Farage]].<ref name="MerrickMay2017">Merrick, Rob (May 7, 2017). [http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/election-latest-nigel-farage-theresa-may-stolen-ukip-policies-brussels-bashing-immigration-a7722346.html Nigel Farage says Theresa May is winning because she has stolen all his policies]. ''The Independent''. Retrieved May 7, 2017.</ref> This could be seen in the 2017 Conservative Party campaign manifesto, under Prime Minister [[Theresa May]], which adopted some of UKIP's EU and immigration policies.<ref>Montgomery, Jack (May 18, 2017). [https://www.breitbart.com/london/2017/05/18/may-reveals-polarising-policies-immigration-social-care/ Theresa May Launches Conservative Manifesto: Pledge to Leave EU Single Market, Elderly Care Cost Raid]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved May 18, 2017.</ref><ref name="RaynerMay2017">Rayner, Gordon (May 18, 2017). [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/05/18/conservative-manifesto-general-election-2017-key-points-policies/ Conservative manifesto for General Election 2017: Key points, policies and summary]. ''The Telegraph''. Retrieved May 18, 2017.</ref> Because of this shift, the Conservative Party absorbed many UKIP voters.<ref>Dickson, Annabelle (May 17, 2017). [https://www.politico.eu/article/theresa-may-marches-into-ukip-land/ Theresa May marches into UKIP country]. ''Politico''. Retrieved May 18, 2017.</ref> However, the manifesto also called for some forms of government expansion and additional social spending,<ref name="RaynerMay2017"/><ref>Edmunds, Donna Rachel (May 18, 2017). [https://www.breitbart.com/london/2017/05/18/conservatives-social-policy-biggest-stealth-tax-history/ Conservatives’ Social Policy is ‘Biggest Stealth Tax in History’]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved May 18, 2017.</ref> and the manifesto contained several worrisome pledges for conservatives and proponents of Brexit.<ref>Edmunds, Donna Rachel (May 18, 2017). [https://www.breitbart.com/london/2017/05/18/top-7-conservative-manifesto-pledges-to-worry-brexiteers/ Top 7 Conservative Manifesto Pledges to Worry Brexiteers]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved May 19, 2017.</ref> Additionally, the manifesto rejected individualism and "untrammeled free markets", and May rejected statements that she was like former Prime Minister [[Margaret Thatcher]] or that she would "drift to the Right."<ref>Hughes, Laura (May 18, 2017). [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/05/18/general-election-2017-latest-news-polls-analysis/ Theresa May rejects Margaret Thatcher comparisons and says her government 'will not drift to the right']. ''The Telegraph''. Retrieved May 18, 2017.</ref> Noting the Conservative Party's past failures to reduce immigration in the recent past, former Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne, now editor of the London Evening Standard, wrote an editorial at the time of the manifesto's release in May 2017 that the Conservative Party leadership opposed and never intended to keep its immigration reduction promises.<ref>Montgomery, Jack (May 17, 2017). [https://www.breitbart.com/london/2017/05/17/osborne-boasts-tories-never-intended-keep-immigration-promises/ Osborne Boasts Tories Never Intended to Keep Immigration Promises in Shock Editorial]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved May 18, 2017.</ref>

====2017 general election====

====2017 general election====