Conservative Party (UK) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Conservative and Unionist Party
Leader	Kemi Badenoch
Lords Leader	The Lord True
Chief Whips	Stuart Andrew (Commons) Vacant (Lords)
Chairman	Richard Fuller (Interim)
Chief Executive	Stephen Massey
Founded	1834; 191 years ago (1834) (original form) 9 May 1912; 113 years ago (1912-05-09) (current form)
Merger of	Conservative Party Liberal Unionist Party
Preceded by	Tories
Headquarters	Conservative Campaign Headquarters 4 Matthew Parker Street, London SW1H 9HQ
Youth wing	Young Conservatives
Women's wing	Conservative Women's Organisation
Overseas wing	Conservatives Abroad
LGBT wing	LGBT+ Conservatives
Membership (2024)	131,680
Ideology	Conservatism (British) Economic liberalism British unionism
Political position	Centre-right to right-wing
International affiliation	International Democracy Union
Irish affiliation	Ulster Unionist Party (1922–1972; 2009–2012) Irish Unionist Alliance (1891–1922) Irish Conservative Party (1834–1891) Ulster Unionist Party (as Ulster Conservatives and Unionists) (2009–2012)
Colours	Sky blue
Slogan	Renew and Rebuild (2024)
Governing body	Conservative Party Board
Devolved or semi-autonomous branches	London Conservatives Scottish Conservatives Welsh Conservatives Northern Ireland Conservatives Gibraltar Conservatives
Parliamentary party	1922 Committee
House of Commons	121 / 650
House of Lords	243 / 777
Scottish Parliament	31 / 129
Senedd	16 / 60
Regional mayors	1 / 14
London Assembly	8 / 25
PCCs and PFCCs	19 / 37
Local mayors	1 / 13
Councillors	5,104 / 18,766
Politics of the United Kingdom Political parties

The Conservative and Unionist Party, often called the Conservative Party or simply the Tories, is one of the two main political parties in the United Kingdom. The other main party is the Labour Party. Since the 2024 general election, the Conservative Party has been the main opposition party.

The party is generally considered to be on the right-wing or centre-right of politics. It includes different ideas, like one-nation conservatives and Thatcherites. Many Conservative leaders have become Prime Minister. The party holds a big meeting every year called the Conservative Party Conference to talk about its plans.

The Conservative Party started in 1834 from the Tory Party. It was one of the two biggest parties in the 1800s. In 1912, another party, the Liberal Unionist Party, joined with it. For the last 100 years, the main competition has been with the Labour Party. From 2010 to 2024, the party was in charge of the government.

The party generally supports free markets and less government involvement in the economy. They also believe in keeping the United Kingdom together, opposing independence for Scotland or Wales. They have supported different ideas about the European Union (EU) over time. In terms of defence, they support having nuclear weapons and being part of NATO.

Historically, the Conservative Party got most of its support from homeowners, business owners, farmers, and middle-class voters, especially in rural and suburban areas of England. More recently, they have also tried to win over working-class voters. The party has been very successful in British politics for a long time.

How the Conservative Party Started

Robert Peel, who helped start the Conservative Party.

The Conservative Party grew out of the older Tory Party. Some historians also link its beginnings to a group that supported William Pitt the Younger in the 1780s. These groups didn't use the name "Tory" or "Conservative" at first.

The word "Tory" was originally an insult from the 1600s, meaning "outlaw" or "robber." The name "Conservative" was first suggested in a magazine in 1830. It quickly became popular and was officially adopted around 1834 by Robert Peel. Peel is seen as the founder of the modern Conservative Party.

Key Moments in Conservative History

Growing Support (1867–1914)

As more people gained the right to vote in the 1800s, the Conservative Party had to change. Leaders like Benjamin Disraeli helped expand who could vote. In 1886, the party teamed up with the Liberal Unionist Party. Together, under leaders like Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, they were in power for most of the next 20 years.

In 1912, the Liberal Unionists officially joined with the Conservative Party. Because they were against Irish Home Rule, the party was often called the "Unionist Party" in Britain.

World Wars and Beyond (1914–1945)

During the First World War, the Conservatives strongly supported helping France against Germany. They joined a government with other parties in 1915. After the war, the Conservatives became the main party in government.

Winston Churchill, a famous Conservative Prime Minister.

In the 1920s and 1930s, the Conservatives, led by people like Stanley Baldwin, were often in power. They formed a national government during the Second World War under Winston Churchill. However, after the war ended in 1945, they lost the election to the Labour Party.

Post-War Years (1945–1975)

After the war, the Conservatives gained popularity by speaking out against things like food rationing. They won the 1951 election and were in power for 13 years. During this time, they accepted many of the welfare programs created by Labour. They also privatized some industries, like steel.

Harold Macmillan was a Conservative Prime Minister after the war.

Conservative Prime Ministers like Winston Churchill, Anthony Eden, and Harold Macmillan led the country. In 1970, Edward Heath became Prime Minister. His government took the UK into the European Economic Community (EEC), which later became the EU. However, his government faced many strikes and economic problems.

The Thatcher Era (1975–1990)

Margaret Thatcher led the Conservatives for many years.

In 1975, Margaret Thatcher became the leader of the Conservative Party. She believed that the government was too involved in the economy. Her ideas, known as Thatcherism, focused on free markets, selling off state-owned industries, and reducing the power of trade unions.

One of her popular policies was "Right to Buy," which allowed people living in council (public) housing to buy their homes at a discount. This made many new homeowners more likely to vote Conservative.

Thatcher won three elections: in 1979, 1983, and 1987. The Falklands War victory in 1982 also boosted her popularity. However, her introduction of the "poll tax" (Community Charge) was very unpopular and led to her resignation in 1990.

The Major Years (1990–1997)

John Major became Prime Minister after Margaret Thatcher.

John Major took over as leader in 1990 and led the party to another election win in 1992. However, his time as Prime Minister was difficult. The UK had to leave the European Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM) on "Black Wednesday" in 1992, which hurt the party's image for managing the economy.

The party also had many disagreements, especially about the UK's role in the European Union. These internal fights and accusations of scandals led to a huge defeat for the Conservatives in the 1997 election.

In Opposition (1997–2010)

After 1997, the Conservative Party was out of power for 13 years. Leaders like William Hague, Iain Duncan Smith, and Michael Howard tried to rebuild the party. They slowly gained more seats in Parliament.

In 2005, David Cameron became leader. He aimed to modernize the party and make it more appealing to a wider range of voters.

Recent Governments (2010–2024)

From 2010 to 2024, the Conservative Party was back in government, led by five different Prime Ministers.

David Cameron's Leadership (2010–2016)

David Cameron led the first Conservative government since 1997.

In 2010, the election resulted in no single party winning enough seats to govern alone. So, David Cameron formed a coalition government with the Liberal Democrats. His government focused on reducing government debt after the 2007–2008 financial crisis.

In 2015, the Conservatives won enough seats to form a government on their own. Cameron then held a vote on whether the UK should stay in the European Union. He campaigned to remain, but the public voted to leave. Cameron resigned as Prime Minister in June 2016.

Theresa May's Leadership (2016–2019)

Theresa May became Prime Minister after the Brexit vote.

Theresa May became Conservative leader and Prime Minister in July 2016. Her main task was to manage the UK's exit from the European Union, known as Brexit. She started the process in March 2017.

May called a general election in June 2017, hoping to win a stronger majority. However, the election resulted in another hung parliament, meaning no party had an overall majority. She had to make a deal with the DUP to form a minority government. Her Brexit deal was rejected by Parliament multiple times, and she resigned in May 2019.

Boris Johnson's Leadership (2019–2022)

Boris Johnson led the Conservatives to a large election victory.

Boris Johnson became leader in July 2019, promising to deliver Brexit. He called a general election in December 2019, which the Conservatives won with their largest majority since 1987. The UK officially left the EU in January 2020.

Johnson's time as Prime Minister was largely shaped by the COVID-19 pandemic. He also faced criticism over gatherings held at Downing Street during lockdown, known as "Partygate." These issues, along with other controversies, led to many government officials resigning, and Johnson announced his resignation in July 2022.

Liz Truss's Leadership (2022)

Liz Truss had the shortest time as Prime Minister.

Liz Truss became Prime Minister in September 2022. She introduced economic policies to help with the cost of living crisis. However, her plans were heavily criticized by experts and led to financial instability. After only 44 days in office, the shortest time for any British Prime Minister, Truss resigned in October 2022.

Rishi Sunak's Leadership (2022–2024)

Rishi Sunak became Prime Minister in October 2022.

Rishi Sunak became Conservative leader and Prime Minister in October 2022. He was the first British Asian Prime Minister. He called a general election for July 2024.

In the 2024 general election, the Conservative Party faced very low public support. They focused their campaign on the economy, taxes, and public services. The election resulted in the lowest number of seats for the Conservative Party in its history, and they became the Official Opposition.

What the Conservatives Believe In

Economic Ideas

The Conservative Party believes that a free market and individual effort are key to a strong economy. They often support supply-side economics, which suggests that lower taxes can help the economy grow. They also focus on a "social market economy," which means having a free market but also caring about social fairness.

They have always been against the UK joining the European single currency, the euro. Since 2010, they have also worked to reduce government spending through austerity measures. However, more recently, they have signaled an end to austerity, planning to increase spending on healthcare, education, and other areas.

Social Ideas

The party has changed some of its social policies over time. For example, the Conservative government supported introducing equal marriage rights for LGBT+ people in 2010.

There is often a debate within the party between "modernizers" who want to update the party's views on social issues, and "traditionalists" who prefer to stick to older conservative ideas.

The party has also discussed multiculturalism. Some Conservatives have criticized policies that treat different social groups as separate, arguing that everyone should be seen as British citizens.

On immigration, the party has aimed for stricter rules and an end to free movement with the EU after Brexit. However, the number of people coming to the UK has increased in recent years, partly due to the need for healthcare workers.

Foreign Policy

The Conservative Party generally supports close ties with the United States and other countries like Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. They believe in a wide range of international alliances, including NATO and the Commonwealth of Nations.

They have also supported a Free Trade Area in Africa to help its economy. The Conservatives have pledged to spend a certain amount of national income on international aid.

Close relations between the UK and the US, often called a "Special Relationship," have been important to Conservative foreign policy since the Second World War.

Defence Policy

The Conservative Party believes that NATO is the most important security alliance for the UK. They want all NATO countries to spend 2% of their GDP on defence. They also support the UK having its own nuclear weapons programme.

They believe in working with European partners on defence but insist that any EU military efforts should support, not replace, British national defence and NATO.

Education and Research

In education, the Conservatives have aimed to improve national qualifications and apprenticeships. They also want to make it easier to maintain discipline in schools.

For university education, they have increased tuition fees but made sure students don't pay until they earn over a certain amount. They also support funding for postgraduate students.

The Conservative government has also introduced T Levels, which are new qualifications focused on technical education.

Family Policy

The Conservatives aim to support family life. They have proposed policies like shared parental leave, allowing parents to share up to 50 weeks of leave after a child is born.

They have also increased free childcare hours for working parents of three and four-year-olds. They also fund free education and childcare for some two-year-olds.

Jobs and Welfare Policy

A key goal for the Conservatives has been to reduce unemployment and help more people find jobs through apprenticeships and training. They have reformed welfare benefits, moving claimants to the Universal Credit system.

While they once opposed a national minimum wage, the party now supports it and has introduced a National Living Wage. They also support linking pensions to earnings and plan to raise the retirement age.

Energy and Climate Change Policy

The Conservatives have focused on "green" issues. They passed a law in 2019 to make UK greenhouse gas emissions net zero by 2050, meaning the country will remove as much carbon from the atmosphere as it produces. The UK was the first major economy to make this a legal goal.

In 2019, they also declared a climate emergency. They have a 10-point plan for a "green industrial revolution," which includes ending the sale of petrol and diesel cars and increasing offshore wind power.

Transport and Infrastructure Policy

The Conservatives have invested in public transport and infrastructure, including high-speed rail, electric vehicles, and bus networks. They aim to make England a "great walking and cycling nation" by 2030, with more funding for active travel.

They have also announced plans to partly re-nationalize the railway network, bringing infrastructure and operations under a state-owned body called Great British Railways.

European Union Policy

The UK's role in the European Union has been a very debated topic within the Conservative Party. While a Conservative Prime Minister, Edward Heath, led the UK into the European Communities (which became the EU), most modern Conservatives are against closer ties with the EU.

There are different views within the party, from those who wanted to stay in the EU but with less integration, to those who strongly supported leaving completely.

Constitutional Policy

The Conservative Party traditionally supports the UK's unwritten constitution of the United Kingdom and its traditional Westminster system of politics. They have often opposed changes to this system, such as removing hereditary peers from the House of Lords.

In 2019, the Conservatives promised a broad review of the UK's constitution after Brexit, looking at how the government, Parliament, and courts work together.

How the Conservative Party is Organized

Party Structure

The Conservative Party has three main parts: the voluntary party (members), the parliamentary party (MPs), and the professional party (staff).

People join the party by becoming members of a local Conservative Association. These local groups help choose candidates for elections.

The 1922 Committee is a group of Conservative MPs who are not government ministers. They meet weekly and play a key role in choosing party leaders.

The Conservative Campaign Headquarters (CCHQ) is the main office that handles fundraising, election campaigns, and policy development.

The Conservative Party Board is the top decision-making body for the party's daily operations, including fundraising and membership.

Membership

The number of Conservative Party members has changed over time. It was highest in the 1950s with about 3 million members. In 2022, it had about 172,000 members.

The membership fee is £25, or £5 for members under 23 years old.

Young Conservatives

The Young Conservatives is the party's group for members aged 25 and under. It aims to get young people involved in local party activities.

Conferences

The party holds two main events each year: the Spring Forum and the Conservative Party Conference in the autumn. These are times when party members and leaders meet to discuss policies and plans.

Funding

The Conservative Party receives funding from various sources, including donations from individuals and businesses. Many large donors have given significant sums to the party.

International Connections

The Conservative Party is part of international groups like the International Democracy Union, which connects right-wing parties from around the world, including the US Republican Party.

In Europe, they are members of the European Conservatives and Reformists Party (ECR Party). This group brings together conservative parties that are against a very strong, central European Union.

Party Logo

The Conservative Party has changed its logo over the years. In the 1980s, it used a torch design. In 2006, it changed to a sketched oak tree to show its commitment to the environment. The oak tree represents strength and growth. Later versions added the Union Jack flag.

Different Ideas Within the Party

The Conservative Party has different groups with various ideas, including one-nation conservatism, Thatcherism, and traditional conservatism.

One-nation Conservatives

This group was very influential in the 1900s. They believe in social unity and supporting institutions like the welfare state to keep different groups in society working together. They are often linked to the Tory Reform Group.

Free-market Conservatives

This group became very strong under Margaret Thatcher. They want less government involvement in the economy, lower taxes, and the sale of state-owned industries. They are often called "Thatcherites." Many in this group are also Eurosceptic, meaning they are wary of the European Union, seeing its rules as interfering with free markets.

Traditionalist Conservatives

This group is the oldest tradition in the party. They focus on supporting traditional social institutions, like the Church of England, the idea of a single British state, and traditional family structures. They often oppose giving power away from the UK government.

How These Groups Work Together

Sometimes, different groups within the party team up to oppose another. For example, Thatcherite and traditionalist Conservatives sometimes disagreed with other groups on issues like Europe. It's not always easy to put every Conservative MP into just one group, as their views can be mixed.

Election Results

The Conservative Party takes part in elections across the UK. Their national campaigns are managed by the Conservative Campaign Headquarters (CCHQ). They also rely on local volunteers and activists.

The table below shows how the Conservative Party has performed in general elections since 1835.

Parliament of the United Kingdom

Election	Leader	Votes		Seats			Position	Government
		No.	Share	No.	±	Share
1835	Robert Peel	261,269	40.8%	273 / 658	98	41.5%	2nd	Whig
1837		379,694	48.3%	314 / 658	41	47.7%	2nd	Whig
1841		379,694	56.9%	367 / 658	53	55.8%	1st	Conservative
1847	Earl of Derby	205,481	42.7%	325 / 656	42	49.5%	1st	Whig
1852		311,481	41.9%	330 / 654	5	50.5%	1st	Conservative minority
1857		239,712	34.0%	264 / 654	66	40.4%	2nd	Whig
1859		193,232	34.3%	298 / 654	34	45.6%	2nd	Conservative minority
1865		346,035	40.5%	289 / 658	9	43.9%	2nd	Liberal
1868	Benjamin Disraeli	903,318	38.4%	271 / 658	18	41.2%	2nd	Liberal
1874		1,091,708	44.3%	350 / 652	79	53.7%	1st	Conservative
1880		1,462,351	42.5%	237 / 652	113	36.3%	2nd	Liberal
1885	Marquess of Salisbury	1,869,560	43.4%	247 / 670	10	36.9%	2nd	Conservative minority
1886		1,417,627	51.4%	393 / 670	146	58.7%	1st	Conservative–Liberal Unionist
1892		2,028,586	47.0%	314 / 670	79	46.9%	2nd	Conservative minority
1895		1,759,484	49.3%	411 / 670	97	61.3%	1st	Conservative–Liberal Unionist
1900		1,637,683	50.2%	402 / 670	9	60.0%	1st	Conservative–Liberal Unionist
1906	Arthur Balfour	2,278,076	43.4%	156 / 670	246	23.3%	2nd	Liberal
January 1910		2,919,236	46.8%	272 / 670	116	40.6%	2nd	Liberal minority
December 1910		2,270,753	46.6%	271 / 670	1	40.5%	2nd	Liberal minority
Merged with Liberal Unionist Party in 1912 to become the Conservative and Unionist Party
1918	Bonar Law	4,003,848	38.4%	379 / 707 332 elected with Coupon	108	53.6%	1st	Coalition Liberal–Conservative
1922		5,294,465	38.5%	344 / 615	35	55.9%	1st	Conservative
1923	Stanley Baldwin	5,286,159	38.0%	258 / 625	86	41.3%	1st	Conservative minority
1924		7,418,983	46.8%	412 / 615	124	67.0%	1st	Conservative
1929		8,252,527	38.1%	260 / 615	152	42.3%	2nd	Labour minority
1931		11,377,022	55.0%	470 / 615	210	76.4%	1st	Conservative–Liberal–National Labour
1935		10,025,083	47.8%	386 / 615	83	62.8%	1st	Conservative–Liberal National–National Labour
1945	Winston Churchill	8,716,211	36.2%	197 / 640	189	30.8%	2nd	Labour
1950		11,507,061	40.0%	282 / 625	85	45.1%	2nd	Labour
1951		13,724,418	48.0%	302 / 625	20	48.3%	1st	Conservative–National Liberal
1955	Anthony Eden	13,310,891	49.7%	324 / 630	22	51.4%	1st	Conservative–National Liberal
1959	Harold Macmillan	13,750,875	49.4%	345 / 630	21	54.8%	1st	Conservative–National Liberal
1964	Alec Douglas-Home	12,002,642	43.4%	298 / 630	47	47.3%	2nd	Labour
1966	Edward Heath	11,418,455	41.9%	250 / 630	48	39.7%	2nd	Labour
1970		13,145,123	46.4%	330 / 630	80	52.4%	1st	Conservative
February 1974		11,872,180	37.9%	297 / 635	33	46.8%	2nd	Labour minority
October 1974		10,462,565	35.8%	277 / 635	20	43.6%	2nd	Labour
1979	Margaret Thatcher	13,697,923	43.9%	339 / 635	62	53.4%	1st	Conservative
1983		13,012,316	42.4%	397 / 650	38	61.1%	1st	Conservative
1987		13,760,935	42.2%	376 / 650	21	57.8%	1st	Conservative
1992	John Major	14,093,007	41.9%	336 / 651	40	51.6%	1st	Conservative
1997		9,600,943	30.7%	165 / 659	171	25.0%	2nd	Labour
2001	William Hague	8,357,615	31.7%	166 / 659	1	25.2%	2nd	Labour
2005	Michael Howard	8,785,941	32.4%	198 / 646	32	30.7%	2nd	Labour
2010	David Cameron	10,704,647	36.1%	306 / 650	108	47.1%	1st	Conservative–Liberal Democrats
2015		11,334,920	36.9%	330 / 650	24	50.8%	1st	Conservative
2017	Theresa May	13,636,684	42.3%	317 / 650	13	48.8%	1st	Conservative minority with DUP confidence and supply
2019	Boris Johnson	13,966,451	43.6%	365 / 650	48	56.2%	1st	Conservative
2024	Rishi Sunak	6,828,925	23.7%	121 / 650	244	18.6%	2nd	Labour

Images for kids

• 

  Share of the vote received by Conservatives (blue), Whigs/Liberals/Liberal Democrats (orange), Labour (red) and others (grey) in general elections since 1832

• 

  Margaret Thatcher (second left), Ronald Reagan (far left) and their spouses in 1988. Thatcher and Reagan developed a close relationship against the Soviet Union.

• 

  The National Conservative Convention is held during the Conservative Party Conference.