ConservativeHome's Dictionary

Zero-sum game

A social or economic situation where someone's gain is at the expense of another person.

Zero tolerance

By refusing to tolerate minor crimes - like vandalism and public drunkenness - a well-policed community can stop petty criminals jumping on the conveyor belt to more serious crimes.

Worldview

A worldview is a comprehensive way of seeing and understanding the world.

Wolves-in-sheep's-clothing

The BBC, the Liberal Democrats and the NSPCC may look and sound moderate but their agenda can be anything but.

When-I-visited-Manchester-it-didn't-rain arguments

Anecdotes can bring arguments alive but they’re not the basis for sound policies.

Wedge issues

A wedge issue can be used to slice off a chunk of voters from the political party they traditionally support.

War on terror

The war on terror is most properly thought of as a race against terrorists determined to find and deploy weapons of terrible destruction against civilisation.

Vulnerable people

The British public believes that pensioners and children are society’s two most vulnerable groups.

Voluntary Equality Tax

Peter Lilley’s tongue-in-cheek suggestion of an immediate device to help professed egalitarians move towards their ideal society.

Vigorous virtues

Virtues - like courage, ambition and creativity - that drive a society towards wealth creation and its own defence.