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→Conservatives in the United Kingdom
In the United Kingdom the present parliamentary opposition party is called the [[Conservative party]]and as it's name suggests hold traditional conservative views. Its current leader is [[David Cameron]]. In politcal policy the UK Conservatives are more closely aligned to the US Democrats, despite them being the most right of the main 3 parties.
In the United Kingdom the present parliamentary opposition party is called the [[Conservative party]]and as it's name suggests hold traditional conservative views. Its current leader is [[David Cameron]]. In politcal policy the UK Conservatives are more closely aligned to the US Democrats, despite them being the most right of the main 3 parties.
Up until the mid-19th century, the forerunners of the Conservatives were known as [[Tory|Tories]], and the name has persisted as a common nickname.
Many issues that are commonly used to define Conservatives in the US have little or no relevance in other countries - for example, UK Conservatives do not campaign on issues of gun control or abortion rights, and only a minority are overtly hostile to homosexuality (although they may oppose legislation designed to enforce equality). Fewer still express [[racist]] views, and are generally disciplined by their party when they do. Nevertheless, there is generally a strong bias towards the nuclear family over other forms of cohabitation. Since the late 1970s, UK conservatives have been defined by an advocacy of [[Laissez-faire]] economics, privatization and lower taxation.
Many issues that are commonly used to define Conservatives in the US have little or no relevance in other countries - for example, UK Conservatives do not campaign on issues of gun control or abortion rights, and only a minority are overtly hostile to homosexuality (although they may oppose legislation designed to enforce equality). Fewer still express [[racist]] views, and are generally disciplined by their party when they do. Nevertheless, there is generally a strong bias towards the nuclear family over other forms of cohabitation. Since the late 1970s, UK conservatives have been defined by an advocacy of [[Laissez-faire]] economics, privatization and lower taxation.
Religion as a whole and biblical literalism in particular play only a very minor role in UK politics (arguably with the exception of Northern Ireland), and a lack of a religious belief is not considered incompatible with British conservatism.
Religion as a whole and biblical literalism in particular play only a very minor role in UK politics (arguably with the exception of Northern Ireland), and a lack of a religious belief is not considered incompatible with British conservatism.
In common with conservatives in many other countries, UK Conservatives tend towards a [[Nationalist]] outlook, and are traditionally sceptical of the [[European Union]], although it was the Tory Prime Minister [[Edward Heath]] who took Britain into the [[EU|EEC]].
== References ==
== References ==