The Strange Death of Tory England

The Strange Death of Tory England examines the decline of Britain's Conservative Party from its position as the dominant political force of the 20th century to its struggles in modern times. The narrative tracks the party's trajectory from 1963 through the early 2000s, focusing on pivotal moments and transformative leaders. Wheatcroft analyzes the tensions between traditional Conservative values and modernizing forces within the party, beginning with the 1963 leadership contest between Rab Butler and the Earl of Home. The book moves through the Thatcher years, John Major's premiership, and the party's subsequent difficulties in opposition, documenting the internal conflicts and external pressures that shaped these periods. The text places the Conservative Party's evolution within the broader context of British social and cultural changes, including class dynamics, economic policies, and shifting public attitudes. Through historical analysis and political commentary, Wheatcroft charts how these forces affected the party's identity and electoral fortunes. At its core, the book raises questions about political adaptation and survival, exploring how traditional institutions either transform or decline when faced with societal change. The work stands as both a political history and a study of institutional transformation.

Readers found this book provided detailed insight into the Conservative Party's decline from Thatcher through Major to Cameron. The narrative focuses on scandals, infighting, and policy failures that eroded party unity. Readers appreciated: - Clear explanation of complex political relationships - Behind-the-scenes accounts of key events and decisions - Analysis of how Europe divided the party - Dry humor throughout the commentary Common criticisms: - Too much focus on personalities over policies - Occasional meandering into tangential stories - Some readers felt the anti-EU bias was too strong Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (47 ratings) Amazon UK: 4.1/5 (16 ratings) Notable reader comments: "Excellent on the internal Conservative conflicts but light on economic analysis" - Goodreads reviewer "A fascinating obituary of the party I once knew" - Amazon UK reviewer "The author's contempt for certain figures occasionally overshadows the history" - LibraryThing reviewer

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🔷 The title alludes to George Dangerfield's classic 1935 work "The Strange Death of Liberal England," which chronicled the decline of Britain's Liberal Party 🔷 Geoffrey Wheatcroft gained prominence as a journalist at The Spectator and has written extensively about British politics for publications including The Guardian and The Atlantic 🔷 The 1963 leadership contest, a key focus of the book, saw Lord Home surprisingly chosen as Conservative leader over the widely-favored Rab Butler, marking what many consider the beginning of modern Tory internal conflicts 🔷 During the period covered by the book (1963-2005), the Conservative Party had only three election victories by different leaders - Edward Heath (1970), Margaret Thatcher (1979, 1983, 1987), and John Major (1992) 🔷 The book examines how the percentage of Conservative MPs educated at public schools dropped from 75% in 1935 to less than 40% by the end of the 20th century, reflecting broader social changes within the party