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Upholding rule of law, rather than making more laws
If this was ever true, it hasn't been for a long time. It's a bit like censorship, where left and right parties claim the other is more censorial because they call theirs "common sense" or "common decency" and the other's censorship.
The Thatcher government distrusted the legal system so much that laws telling judges what sentences they could apply to specific crimes became a major activity; more recent Tory governments have simply decided that the legal system is their enemy. Privatisation also meant that primary legislation was required to set standards and governance rules for things that had previously simply been governed.
itsbruce-
I take you're point about the Conservative Party's policies irl, but I still maintain that upholding the rule of law is a true conservative value.
They included it in their 5 British values. It is often cited as one of the positives of Empire. It has facilitated trade, commerce and underpins capitalism.
Imo it is a fantastic indicator of how unconservative Johnson's government was. It was pure right of might.
I'd also go so far as to say it is one of the clearest demarcations of the line between centre right and beyond. When you legislate to change facts to achieve a policy aim, that is firmly over the line.
hugo7
✅ Maintaining status quo; monarchy, military, environment, service, institutions generally, etc.
✅ family unity, marriage and children
✅ Upholding rule of law, rather than making more laws
✅ Financial prudence / stability
✅ A "balance" of regulation and free market (ymmv)
✅ Helping the poor via wealth generation and charity
✅ The Laffer Curve
✅ Stiff upper lip
✅ Manners
❌ Fucking everything up because we need a change, and for the lolz
❌ Worrying about bathrooms
❌ Breaking the law for your own ends
❌ Risky financial decisions and ignoring established institutions
❌ Zero regulations
❌ The Hunger Games
❌ Zero tax
❌ Wetting the bed when you don't get your way/people disagree
❌ Rudeness
I think Ken Clarke is a pretty solid e.g. of a true centre right small and big-C conservative. Tbh I think a "would Ken smile politely while thinking you're a cunt" test is pretty solid.