In this chapter, an attempt will be made to explore some of the values and ideas that have come to define conservatism. The discussion will have an Anglo-centric focus, although many of these themes will have broader applicability. This will be followed by a review of the influential strands of conservatism that have been embraced by the modern Conservative Party and their impact on thinking about the welfare state. The chapter concludes with a short contextual overview of the party's approach to state welfare in the early decades of the 20th century.

Conservatism

In his book on conservatism, Roger Scruton (2001) captures the elusive nature of this doctrine, arguing that it rarely announces

At root, the notion of conservatism is most closely associated with a desire to protect or preserve an established or familiar way of living. While this represents a useful starting position, it begs the question of what is to be protected and for what purpose? As Heywood (2007) notes, ‘if conservatism were to consist of no more than a knee-jerk defence of the status quo, it would be merely a political attitude rather than an ideology. In fact, many people or groups can be considered “conservative” in the sense that they resist change, but certainly cannot be said to subscribe to a conservative political creed’ (p 68).

It is important to note that many self-professed conservatives, including those who are members or supporters of the Conservative Party, would regard themselves as having non-ideological inclinations and dispositions that develop slowly and are ‘honed by maturity and experience of life’ (Ball, 2013, p 2). Their attitudes towards economic and social issues are formed on the basis of common sense and pragmatism rather than a premeditated ideological stance. From this perspective, then, conservatism is portrayed as pragmatic, moderate, and protective of an existing social order that has stood the test of time.