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The Evolution Of Conservative Party Social Policy pp 27–53Cite as

Palgrave Macmillan

The ‘New Right’ and its impact on Conservative social policy

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Abstract

This chapter focuses on the development and evolution of the specific ‘New Right’ ideology in its guise as a contemporary and modern variant of Conservative political thought. As a viewpoint with a global context and influence, it aspired to revive the individualistic values of the liberal ‘free-market’ economic environment that prevailed in the mid to late 19th century, while seeking to dismantle the post-1945 welfare settlement. This ‘neo-liberal’ economic outlook subsequently established itself as a distinct influence within the British Conservative Party during its period of political dominance in the 1980s, rejecting much of the party’s paternalistic social policy of the post-war period in the process. In exploring precisely what the beliefs and key principles of this brand of Conservatism are, it is necessary to analyse its origins and assess how it has developed as a political concept within the modern political framework, as well as how it became firmly attached to the policy-making agenda of Margaret Thatcher from 1975 onwards. We will see how the New Right’s ideological thrust influenced the welfare and social policies of the Thatcher government between 1979 and 1990, and how it potentially continues to influence party policy to the present day.

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Notes

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Salford, UK

    Ben Williams (Tutor in Politics)

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© 2015 Ben Williams

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Williams, B. (2015). The ‘New Right’ and its impact on Conservative social policy. In: The Evolution Of Conservative Party Social Policy. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137445810_3

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