什麼是保守黨

正式名稱爲全國保守主義與統一主義協會聯盟（National Union of Conservative and Unionist Associations）。

英國政黨，其綱領包括增進私人財富和獎勵私人企業，維持強勢的軍事和外交政策，保存傳統文化價值和機構。繼承了以前的託利黨，在1832年的「英國第一改革法」通過後，老託利黨的成員們開始組成「保守主義協會」。現代保守黨基本上是兩個集團的結合︰一個是傳統父權式「一國」託利黨，另一個是經濟自由派。只要有一方尋求改變，一定遭到另一方的強烈反對。爲了讓保守黨組成政府並維持下去，必須小心保持傳統派和鼓吹共產主義社會者一翼同自由派和個人主義者一翼的平衡。但是由於內部對與歐盟關係的嚴重爭議使這種基本畫分複雜化。現代保守黨十分倚重地主階級和中產階級的黨員，然而，其選舉的基層有時跨越了這個階級，併入約1/3的勞動階級。勞動階級的選票是保守黨在第一次世界大戰後選舉大獲全勝的關鍵。第一次世界大戰以來，保守黨和工黨支配了英國的政治。

Conservative Party

British political party whose guiding principles include promotion of private property and enterprise, maintenance of a strong military and foreign policy, and preservation of traditional cultural values and institutions. It is the heir of the old Tory Party, whose members began forming “conservative associations” after electoral rights were extended to the middle class in 1832. The modern party (whose members are often known as Tories) is essentially a coalition of two groups, and must balance its traditionalist and communitarian wing against its libertarian and individualist wing. It also experiences internal conflict over Britain's relationship with the European Union. Its membership is heavily dependent on the landowning and middle classes, but its electoral base has extended at times to incorporate about one-third of the working class. Since World War I, it and the Labour Party have dominated British politics.