From 1997 to 2005 conservative party lost three general elections in a row. David Cameron has introduced much reform into the Conservative Party since his ascension into power of the Conservative Party, in December 2005. He has, in many ways, modernised the Party, and has introduced measures that are so wide reaching, that his brand of Conservatism has a name, Social Conservatism. Conservative traditionally believes on less intervention by the government. It means that if any industry and company found itself in financial difficulties then government will not help them. For example if royal mail found itself in financial difficulties then government won’t help them. But Cameron has changed this policy. He said that it is the role of government to help industries if they find. He believes that state has a key role in increasing opportunities and reducing poverty because if any industry finds itself in difficulties then it also affects unemployment. He believes that state has a key role in increasing opportunities and reducing poverty. Conservative traditionally believes on low taxes. They believe that taxes on income and company profits should be kept to minimum. So it is a natural conservative instinct to want to cut taxes. But the David Cameron and his shadow chancellor asserted that the tax cuts cannot be made at the expense of the public services. In other words they see it as most important that health, education, social services and so on should be protected even if public opinion asserts that tax should be reduced. In education it is conservative traditionally policy for the support of selective secondary schools. But Cameron believes on opportunities for all, Cameron abounded the traditional support for selective secondary education (effectively grammar schools) in 2007. Instead he supported labour policy to create a wide range of different types of school and colleges, but he also said that all this facilities should be available to all, no matter what their economic, social and political background or educational background. It is traditional conservative policy to tougher on the crime and also harsh penalties for criminals. They believe that you can decrease the crime rate by only giving harsh penalties and punishments. But Cameron’s believe that attempts should be made to understand better the causes of causes of crime and to deal with them. This need to be balanced against a tough approach to serious crime. He also believes on more enlightening policies on the sentencing and rehabilitation of offenders. We can say that he believe on sympathy as well as punishment. Few years ago he also went to young criminals and hugs them. It is conservative traditionally policy that the role of state should be limited and it is not the responsibility of government to create economic and social change. It means that it is not the job of government to create jobs, to help industries and to help to improve the society. But Cameron believes that state has a key role in increasing opportunities and reducing poverty. It means that they believe that it is the responsibility of government to provide jobs and to help needy. One of the examples of this policy is benefit cap.
Traditional conservative believe that inequality is natural in a free market system. Welfare support should be reserved only for most needy. its mean that universal credit should be kept only for most needy people. Margret thatcher said that ‘’ there is no such thing as society only the individual’’ But Cameron believes that it is society responsibility to improve the condition of those who are deprived and to open up opportunities for them. That is why he did not decrease the taxes because he thinks taxes should be used for public services and to create opportunities for people. But on the other hand we can say that he is still following the some traditional policies.
It is conservative traditional policy to privatisation of the major industries which are formally under state control and public ownership. The interesting thing is that today conservative party is still in the favour of privatisation. The party still believes that Britain is over governed, this includes the over regulation of business and commerce. The big evidence of this argument is the privatisation of the royal mail. Low taxation is the conservative traditional policy. They believe on low income taxes because they think public know better what they want. Today conservative party also believe that tax should be kept low. They believe that taxes should be low especially for the businesses. However the leadership under Cameron, meanwhile, believes that tax cuts should be made only when further economic growth has been secured and the other public services have been significantly improve. Traditionally conservative party has always been known as a business friendly party. It was conservative traditional policy to encourage people to start their business. Today’s conservative party is still in the favour of encouraging people to start their people. They still promote itself as business friendly. They are also giving the loan with small interest or no interest. He is also in the favour of low taxes for businesses. Traditionally conservative party has always been in the favour of self-reliance. They think that it is not the responsibility of government to provide things to public. They think that public knows better what they want. So they think that individuals should not rely on government and society. D. Cameron also hold the Thatcherists idea self-reliance but on the other hand he also that there is such things as society. They believe that it is society responsibility to improve the conditions of those who are deprived. It is also conservative policy to deregulate the industries which not only include privatisation but also include the market forces and competition. Its mean that they force industries to become more efficient and to provide a better service. At the same time it also forces financial sectors such as banking, building societies and stockbroking for more competition. Today’s conservative party also hold the same policy they still force industries and financial sectors for more competition. They believe that these kinds of competition provide public more facilities and also help economy to flourish. It is conservative traditional policy to raise the standards of education, law and order and health (welfare state). Today’s conservative party also believe on raisings standards of education, health and law and order. So they have increased the budget for all the welfare state which include N.H.S and law and order departments. But it is also a fact that Margaret thatcher believed on low budget for welfare state but Cameron believes on balance budget.
So we have found that he has changed many policies like more intervention by government, rehabilitation of criminals, role of state and equal opportunities for all. But largely, economic policies have remained the same, and the Conservatives are still regarded as 'business-friendly'. However, although low tax is important, and Cameron realises this, Social Conservatives argue that tax can merely be lowered as long as public services are not affected detrimentally. They still believe on raising standards of public services such as education and N.H.S. So we also have found that Cameron has become much more centrist. In my opinion I believe that there is evidence which suggests that David Cameron has kept certain factors of Thatcherism in the modern conservative party, however, there is some evidence which also suggests that David Cameron is his own man and differs from Margaret Thatcher’s views. The world was a very different place back when Margaret Thatcher was in power. The UK had a strong manufacturing base and a lot of it was state owned, Unionism was rife and state employed workers were constantly out on strike. And now it conditions are totally change so it is very difficult to compare them.