The Conservative Party in Wales, 1945-1997

The Conservative Party in Wales, 1945-1997, is the first book-length study of Wales' second political party in the decades after the Second World War. It examines why the party failed to find any purchase in other parts of Wales, discussing how it communicated its policies, who its candidates were, and how it deliberately crafted specific policies for the nation. It also scrutinises activists and prominent Tories at the grassroots, revealing understudied aspects of Welsh history, particularly the lives of the Anglicised and socially conservative middle class.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 320 pages
Publication date: 15 April 2024
Publisher: University of Wales Press

Wales is often regarded as one of the most fervently anti-Conservative regions in Britain, with the Conservative Party struggling to forge a meaningful connection with voters. However, The Conservative Party in Wales, 1945–1997, provides a more intricate and nuanced understanding of Wales' second political party during the decades following the Second World War. This book delves into the areas where Conservatism had achieved significant success and raises questions about why it failed to resonate in other parts of Wales. It explores the party's communication strategies, the profiles of its candidates, and the deliberate crafting of specific policies aimed at the nation, such as the introduction of the first Minister for Welsh Affairs and the inclusion of Welsh as a compulsory subject in schools. By adopting a holistic approach, the book scrutinizes grassroots activists and prominent Tories, shedding light on understudied aspects of Welsh history, particularly the lives of the Anglicized and socially conservative middle class.

Wales is often regarded as one of the most fervently anti-Conservative regions in Britain, with the Conservative Party struggling to forge a meaningful connection with voters. However, The Conservative Party in Wales, 1945–1997, provides a more intricate and nuanced understanding of Wales' second political party during the decades following the Second World War. This book delves into the areas where Conservatism had achieved significant success and raises questions about why it failed to resonate in other parts of Wales. It explores the party's communication strategies, the profiles of its candidates, and the deliberate crafting of specific policies aimed at the nation, such as the introduction of the first Minister for Welsh Affairs and the inclusion of Welsh as a compulsory subject in schools. By adopting a holistic approach, the book scrutinizes grassroots activists and prominent Tories, shedding light on understudied aspects of Welsh history, particularly the lives of the Anglicized and socially conservative middle class.

Weight: 416g
Dimension: 138 x 215 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781837720811