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The home - as a symbol of ownership, security, family and independence from government - is a defining idea for conservatism.

'An Englishman's Home Is His Castle' goes the saying and John Hayes MP believes that the idea of 'the home' could become a defining idea for British conservatism. In a recent speech he said:

“The idea of the home can define a Conservative agenda for the twenty-first century. Homes are a symbol of social justice – of private ownership – of security – of independence from intrusive government – of local identity - of embryonic community life…”

The Conservative lexicon has narrowed in recent years. Tory MPs are comfortable talking about choice, small government and a tough approach to crime. Most can make a good case for Euro-scepticism. But ask them about the natural environment, social exclusion, family breakdown or insecurity in old age and they don’t always have an intelligent response.

Individual liberty has become the defining idea for large sections of today’s Conservative Party – crowding out other thought traditions. But how does such an emphasis help the Conservative Party respond to today’s anxieties? Anxieties like the rise of violent crime and terrorism on the one hand and the destruction of the countryside and community life on the other?

John Hayes’ suggestion of ‘the home’ as a defining Conservative idea is an interesting and potentially unifying one...

For social conservatives it reads as shorthand for family life...

For economic conservatives it is a symbol of property ownership.

For libertarian conservatives it is a place that – usually - should be beyond government’s reach...

‘The home’ could provide the narrative that the Conservative Party has been seeking for some time.

Comments

[Samuel Coates]

Quite an aspiration for the site..
"The home stands at the bright centre of our lives. Home is where lives start and end. It is where we return at the end of each day and at the end of all of our days."
:)