One Nation

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For other uses of the term One Nation, see One Nation (disambiguation)

One Nation, One Nation Conservatism, or Tory Democracy is a term used in political debate in the United Kingdom to refer to the moderate wing of the Conservative Party.

The term is used to denote a nation characterised by social solidarity and harmony between classes, rather than a nation polarised into "two nations" along class lines. Harold Macmillan, British prime minister from 1957 to 1963, and his rival Rab Butler, who served successively in several important posts without ever becoming prime minister, are usually seen as leading modern exponents of One Nation Conservatism.

The term derives indirectly from one of Benjamin Disraeli's political novels, Sybil, or the Two Nations, in which he described Britain as "Two nations between whom there is no intercourse and no sympathy; who are as ignorant of each other's habits, thoughts, and feelings, as if they were dwellers in different zones, or inhabitants of different planets: the rich and the poor."

Lord Randolph Churchill would also use the term "Tory Democracy" in this Disraelian sense in the late-Victorian era.

In his 2000 Macmillan Lecture, the Conservative front-bencher Damian Green MP asked "Who Needs One Nation Conservatism?" He answered: "My answer to the question posed tonight, 'Who needs One Nation Conservatism?' is first the Conservative Party, and secondly the British people. The current public debate on this topic is most peculiar. Many of those who for years have led the forces of One Nation Conservatism are now excoriated as dinosaurs by certain commentators. At the same time the One Nation label has never been so much in demand. Tony Blair wastes no opportunity to try on, at least in his rhetoric, this comfortable old Tory garment. Rather more convincing is the Conservative Party's former leader William Hague, who on 26 January 2001 said, 'The Conservative Party I feel at home in is the party of One Nation reflecting the whole nation'."

As this quotation illustrates, many Conservatives have tried since the party went into opposition in 1997 to reclaim the "One Nation" ideal for their party, but (like William Hague) have found their way blocked by Tony Blair and his New Labour agenda espousing the Third Way in British politics.

One Nation Conservatives were referred to as "wets" by former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. One Nation Conservatives were often the most vociferous opponents of Thatcherism within the British Conservative Party.

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Canada

It has been said that Canada's first Prime Minister, Sir John A. Macdonald, was heavily influenced by the ideals of the One Nation movement. Gad Horowitz would trace the ideological development in Canada, and would coin the term Red Tory to describe it. Canandian philosopher George Grant stated that, "One cannot understand the Conservatism of Canada without thinking of Disraeli."

"One Nation" was also used in the Progressive Conservative Party in opposition to the proposed deux nations policy.

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