One-nation conservatism

One-nation conservatism is a branch of British political conservatism known for its emphasis on paternalism, which is the belief that privileged members of a society are obliged to help support the less fortunate. One-nation conservatism typically advocates the preservation of established institutions and traditional principles, as well as the creation and maintenance of social and economic programs meant to benefit the average person. In essence, it holds that to truly do what is best for society, the elite must serve the interests of all classes instead of focusing solely on the specific interests of the business class. The idea of one-nation conservatism was first developed by Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli in the late nineteenth century. Although one-nation conservatism has been a constant philosophy within the broader Conservative Party since that time, its precise meaning and practical application have varied considerably as the British political landscape evolved.

Background

The political philosophy of one-nation conservatism originated with nineteenth-century British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli. The first Jewish Prime Minister, Disraeli is widely remembered as one of the most influential figures in the long history of British politics. Born on December 21, 1804, Disraeli was of Jewish-Italian extraction, but was raised within the Anglican faith from a young age. This happenstance eventually cleared the way for Disraeli’s entry into politics, as Jewish people were barred from Parliament until 1858.

Before his political debut, Disraeli pursued a career in writing, first penning the novel Vivian Grey in 1826. Although he continued publishing novels throughout his life, Disraeli was ultimately destined to become a politician. He was first elected to Parliament as a representative of Maidstone in 1837 and was later elected to represent Shrewsbury in 1841. In 1852, Prime Minister Edward Smith Stanley appointed Disraeli as Leader of the Commons and Chancellor of the Exchequer. When Stanley subsequently resigned in 1868, Queen Victoria invited Disraeli to become Prime Minister. His first run as Prime Minister was short-lived, lasting less than a year before his Conservative government was defeated by its Liberal opponents.

Disraeli made his greatest political contributions only after he became Prime Minister for a second time in 1874. With the support of a more stable government, Disraeli was free to pursue an agenda that reflected his view that elite members of society had an obligation to care for and protect the lower classes to ensure the survival of Britain’s cherished institutions. To that end, he introduced legislation aimed at improving the conditions of the working class and adhered to a strong imperialist policy. Among other things, Disraeli oversaw the passage of the 1875 Artisans Dwelling Act, permitting local authorities to destroy slums and provide housing for individuals experiencing poverty, and spearheaded Britain’s purchase of a controlling interest in the Suez Canal. Although he never actually used the term itself, Disraeli gave birth to the idea of one-nation conservatism through these actions and cemented a political legacy that would continue long after his death in 1881.

Overview

Despite being a fixture of Britain’s political landscape since the late nineteenth century, the precise nature of one-nation conservatism has evolved considerably. Disraeli viewed Britain as two nations, one wealthy and one experiencing poverty. He argued that since there was no dialogue and no sympathy between these seemingly disparate nations, each was woefully ignorant of the other’s thoughts, feelings, and needs. During his time as Prime Minister, Disraeli sought to unite the two Britains into one nation through paternalistic policies aimed at encouraging the wealthy to help the less fortunate members of society. With that in mind, he and his government gave skilled manual workers the vote, enacted various social-reform policies, and generally strove to create a new Britain that was no longer divided among class lines. All of this defined Disraeli’s original vision of one-nation conservatism.

In the years since Disraeli’s passing, the commonly accepted definition of one-nation conservatism has changed on numerous occasions. Disraeli’s immediate successor, Lord Salisbury, shifted the stated goal of one-nation conservatism from uniting the classes to uniting the broader British Empire as a whole. As Conservative politicians became increasingly aware of the need to appeal to working-class voters in the early twentieth century, the language of one-nation conservatism was updated to better reflect how the Conservative Party differed from the Labour Party. Specifically, the new language of one-nation conservatism portrayed the Conservative Party as the party of everyone, while Labour was simply focused on carrying out class warfare on behalf of just one segment of society. When Labour came to power in the wake of World War II, Conservative politicians used one-nation conservatism as an explanation for their willingness to accept the welfare state, government intervention in the economy, limited nationalization of industries, and warmer relations with trade unions. During Margaret Thatcher’s tenure as Prime Minister in the 1980s, one-nation conservatism was redefined once more to support the idea of a property-owning democracy. The meaning of one-nation conservatism continued to evolve. In the twenty-first century, several politicians were considered one-nation conservatives, such as UK Prime Minister David Cameron (2010-2016), Theresa May (2016-2019), and Boris Johnson (2019-2022). In 2019, Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd supported the One Nation Conservative Caucus, which opposed Brexit, or the UK's exit from the European Union.

Modern one-nation conservatives view the United Kingdom as an important leader on the world stage and reject narrow nationalism. They also believe that all people have an equal right to opportunities in life and support bold reforms aimed at overcoming social injustice. Further, one-nation conservatives believe in the importance of social responsibility and the necessity of properly funded public services. One-nation conservatives also believe in localism, which means supporting the local, civic, and voluntary over the bureaucratic, statist, and compulsory. In terms of environmental issues, one-nation conservatives believe that all people have a responsibility to be good stewards of the local and global environment. One-nation conservatives also maintain a strong commitment to free enterprise and the market economy. One-nation conservatives are equally committed to upholding human rights and the rule of law through an independent judiciary, effective enforcement, and community policies aimed at preventing crime and social breakdown. Finally, one-nation conservatives support democratic renewal by maintaining civilized political debate, free press, and a commitment to arts and culture.

Bibliography

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