Is the Conservative Party tilting towards libertarianism under Johnson ?
Conservatism is a heterogeneous doctrine. In the UK, as a party, it has continuously moved across a spectrum, with on one side the centrist leaning One Nation Conservatism, characterised by a strong state, and on the other, since Thatcherism, a libertarian-lite attempt to roll back the state. Its co...
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| Gepubliceerd in: | URI:https://journals.openedition.org/osb, |
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| Formaat: | Article ou chapitre numérique |
| Taal: | Anglais |
| Gepubliceerd in: |
Observatoire de la société britannique
2022
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| Online toegang: | Accès Université d'Orléans et IFPM Accès Université d'Orléans et IFPM |
| Samenvatting: | Conservatism is a heterogeneous doctrine. In the UK, as a party, it has continuously moved across a spectrum, with on one side the centrist leaning One Nation Conservatism, characterised by a strong state, and on the other, since Thatcherism, a libertarian-lite attempt to roll back the state. Its core principles have fluctuated to meet its electorate. Under Boris Johnson’s premiership, somewhat of a mixed message is emerging, which makes it challenging to attempt to classify Johnson’s vision. If his Euroscepticism is not questioned of late, Johnson having led the UK out of the EU, his opinion concerning the size of the state is more ambiguous. Although he described himself as a libertarian in the past, he seems to be reluctantly moving away from the stance he adopted as a backbencher. The need to implement Covid restrictions over the course of 2020 could explain this shift. Is the Conservative Party becoming more libertarian under Johnson? This is the question this paper seeks to examine. |
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