The rise of the hardline Religious Right
May 17th, 2010One little noticed aspect of the new Tory parliamentary party is that it is stuffed with adherents of Christian fundamentalism, perhaps as many as 15% of the total. This has gained some prominence from the activities of Philippa Stroud, the Tory candidate for Sutton and Cheam who failed partly because of her well-publicised homophobic views to win her seat, but has still been rewarded by being brought in to the government network as adviser to Ian Duncan Smith, another adherent. But the numbers go far wider.
This is no sudden adventitious trend. Mrs. Thatcher transformed modern Toryism from a party bound together only by its belief in its natural right to rule into an intensively ideological vehicle driven by factions (Dries versus Wets) constantly ready to spot betrayals at every turn – not unlike Old Labour. The ‘nasty party’, as Teresa May so memorably portrayed it, no longer castigated as ‘too clever by half’ as Lord Salisbury notably put it, has found it de rigeur to establish its own ideological niche. ‘Big Society’ rather than Big State may be a thinly veiled cover for massive retrenchment of public services, and hysterical claims of ‘broken Britain’ grossly overdo the slippage from ‘traditional values’, but the trend to more prescriptive values in government is unmistakeable.
Having eagerly embraced American neo-conservatism, the Tories are now clearly toying with some brand of American theo-conservatism. Whilst this is unlikely to go to the US extremes that have marginalised the Republican party, it may well steadily lead to head-on confrontation with the more liberal society that Britain has become in recent years. It may well grate too with the vision that Cameron has previously sought to create as a liberal moderniser, but nevertheless be forced on him as the only way to placate his intolerant hardline Right wing who will be exasperated by the tax rises and no doubt some of the financial cuts which the Budget deficit will enforce.
The bigotry that is now gaining ground in the Tory party goes well beyond religious conservatism and will be seeking to impose its own narrow views on wider social values and the civic order. Tax breaks to encourage the sanctity of marriage and discourage single parenthood plus pushing the sick, disabled and jobless into privatised cheap labour schemes to enforce the work ethic are only the start. This is obviously just one of the areas of simmering dispute between the parties of the coalition, but alongside the potentially massive economic bust-ups this may well steadily turn out to be a slow burn of ugly proportions.
May 17th, 2010 at 10:51 am
RT @michaelmeacher: Growing Xian fundamentalism in the Tory party belies Cameron's version of liberal modernisation http://wp.me/pPvte-eB
May 17th, 2010 at 11:11 am
RT @michaelmeacher: Growing hardline Christian fundamentalism in the Tory party belies Cameron's version of liberal modernisation http://wp.me/pPvte-eB
May 17th, 2010 at 11:18 am
RT @michaelmeacher: Growing hardline Christian fundamentalism in the Tory party belies Cameron's version of liberal modernisation http://wp.me/pPvte-eB
May 17th, 2010 at 11:34 am
RT @michaelmeacher: Growing hardline Christian fundamentalism in the Tory party belies Cameron's version of liberal modernisation http://wp.me/pPvte-eB
May 17th, 2010 at 12:11 pm
Having views is one thing but you give not a shred of evidence for the claims you are making.
Given that the Conservative Christian Fellowship lies at the heart of Conservative Central Office which aspect of what they say do you believe justifies this article?
May 17th, 2010 at 2:55 pm
RT @dizzy_thinks: 9/11 conspiracy theorist Michael Meacher writes about another evil right wing conspiracy http://tinyurl.com/39vpwqa – …
May 17th, 2010 at 3:06 pm
RT @dizzy_thinks: 9/11 conspiracy theorist Michael Meacher writes about another evil right wing conspiracy http://tinyurl.com/39vpwqa – …
May 17th, 2010 at 3:07 pm
RT @dizzy_thinks: 9/11 conspiracy theorist Michael Meacher writes about another evil right wing conspiracy http://tinyurl.com/39vpwqa – how I've missed him!
May 17th, 2010 at 3:53 pm
9/11 conspiracy theorist Michael Meacher writes about another evil right wing conspiracy http://tinyurl.com/39vpwqa – how I've missed him!
May 17th, 2010 at 3:56 pm
“Having eagerly embraced American neo-conservatism, the Tories are now clearly toying with some brand of American theo-conservatism. ”
…remind me, Blair was a member of what party? Because if my memory served me right he was the one who embraced neo-conservatism and is currently going around the world with his Faith Foundation nonsense raking in the millions.
May 17th, 2010 at 6:22 pm
RT @michaelmeacher: Growing hardline Christian fundamentalism in the Tory party belies Cameron's version of liberal modernisation http://wp.me/pPvte-eB
May 17th, 2010 at 11:03 pm
Tories and Christianity?
There’s a contradiction in this. The most profound bit of Christian philosophy is “love they neighbour as thyself.” Thatcher undermined it with “there’s no such thing as society” and rode the tide of selfishness that all the “respect” campaigns in the world could not heal.
I’ve no doubt that the Christianity Michael has identified in this article is of a patronising “rich man at his castle” variety.
May 20th, 2010 at 11:28 pm
Thatcher was talking about denying responsibility for the upbringing of kids when she said “there’s no such thing as society”.*
It is shameful that the Left keeps lying about this and other things – perhaps even the root of the big lie that was New Labour.
Tell the truth if you ever want to be elected again.
As for Christian fundamentalism, there’s a big question mark over Phillipa Stroud, although it’s possible she changed her mind in the 20 years since the alleged incidents and The Times have removed the accusations from their website.
I’m not sure of a question mark over any other Tories. If you have any specific evidence re: other Tory MPs/PPCs et al, post it instead of snide insinuations.
* http://www.margaretthatcher.org/speeches/displaydocument.asp?docid=106689