U K P O L I C Y C O N S E N S U S ? S O F I A S P E R B E R
U K P O L I C Y C O N S E N S U S ? S O F I A S P E R B E R
P olicy consensus implies a common attitude towards social , economic and foreign policy between the major parties . The United Kingdom had arguably seen a policy consensus regarding social issues , such as anti-discrimination laws and diversity , as reflected in the legislation of same-sex marriage under David Cameron ’ s Conservative government in 2014 , an act that would have been highly unlikely under a Thatcher government . Both the Conservative and Labour parties have undergone modernisation towards centre-ground policy and movement away from the parties ’ traditional ideologies . With governments like Tony Blair ’ s 1990s New Labour and the Conservative modernisation since 2005 , the UK has , up until around 2016 , seen a much more centrist political landscape . Major parties have sought to seek support outside of their core demographic , such as the Labour Party seeking more middle-class support and the Conservative Party seeking working-class support , allowing populist ideology to thrive . However , the gradual deterioration of the twoparty system has seen more distinct or even extremist parties achieve electoral success , such as the SNP and the UKIP . Naturally , the 2016 EU Referendum has exposed and exacerbated certain cultural divides within the UK , implying further development and reformation of the UK ’ s major political parties , particularly with new leaders such as Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn .
From 2005 , Conservative Party
Leader David Cameron had led his party in adopting more socially liberal stances , such as an opposition to the death penalty , in contrast to the more willing approach that the Conservatives had taken towards such an issue in their 1979 Manifesto . In this way , Cameron ’ s Conservatism can be compared to New Labour , in that it attempts to satisfy the demand for the efficiency of a freemarket as well as the integrities of a socialist state . For example , both Blair ’ s New Labour and Cameron ’ s Conservatism accepted the economic advantage of free-markets and , arguably , ‘ workfare ’ approaches to welfare . Nevertheless , the Conservatives have maintained a ‘ Thatcherite ’ economic policy , or one that prioritises controlling inflation over controlling unemployment . Despite Theresa May ’ s pledge to put the Conservative Party “ at the service of working people ”, originally a title claimed by Labour , May has suggested that employers should be allowed to overlook the national minimum wage “ for a limited period in extreme economic circumstances ”. May has , consequently , begun to recalibrate the Tories towards a more traditional social conservatism and nationalism , particularly amidst the ramifications of the EU Referendum . This implies a much less socially liberal outlook than first presented , and in this way one can conclude that , though the Conservatives have promoted a more populist and liberal platform , their policies maintain a more ‘ Thatcherite ’ and ‘ rolling back the state ’ attitude that largely contrasts
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