ConservativeHome's Dictionary

Constitutional monarchy

The limited powers of Britain's 'constitutional monarchy' are granted by the 'sovereign' democratically-elected Houses of Parliament.

Grey diversity

Many national institutions rightly work hard to include women or people of different racial backgrounds in their workforces. Government grantmakers do something similar in their funding decisions. Inclusion of people of different worldviews and religions is often neglected, however, and a charitable or media establishment emerges that does not represent the real breadth of Britain.

National independence

Britain depends upon other nations for much of its food, energy and military needs.

Scottish Raj

Gordon Brown, John Reid, Charles Kennedy, Andrew Marr, Jim Naughtie, Kirsty Wark... is Britain run by Scots?

Quangocracy

The bureaucratisation of Britain has been fronted by the 60,000 people appointed to Britain’s 529 quangos.

Patriotism

Love of country is fundamental to all conservatism.

Materialism

Are indebted, obese, binge-drinking, shop-til-u-shop Britons trapped inside a prison of wants?

Localism versus centralisation

Conservatives believe in devolution to local politicians and, wherever possible, to the most people-sized of institutions.

Liberati

The Liberati are privileged folk who want their sexual or drug-abusing freedoms expanded regardless of the cost for vulnerable members of society.

Judicial activism

Through innovative interpretation of laws and constitutions, activist judges effectively create new rights – unilaterally adopting the functions of elected officials. Judicial activism swaps the rule of law for the rule of lawyers.