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The National Party of England is a centre-right political party in England. It currently forms the English government.

The Party was founded in 1930 with the merger of the Conservative Party with Liberal, Unity and Radical Party MPs in

National Party Logo

National Party Logo, 1976-1998

order to form a united, non-socialist opposition to the Social Democratic Party. The National Party has formed the government on several occasions, 1932-1945, 1951-1969, 1977-1982 and 1990-2008. It has been in office for 58 of the 88 years since its foundation.

Since the 2014 election National Party leader Stacy Silverman has served as Prime Minister. At the 2017 election the National Party won its largest electoral victory since 1996, winning 360 seats.

History[]

Foundation[]

The idea of a non-socialist political alliance had been proposed as early as 1917, when it became clear that the Social Democratic Party was a growing political force. The 1929 election saw the election of England's first socialist government.

Lynton Government 1932-1945[]

The National Party won a landslide victory at the 1932 election, winning over 75% of all seats in Parliament, and Richard Lynton became Prime Minister. The National government followed orthodox economic, instituting cuts in public expenditure.

The 1935 election saw the National Party winning another victory not short of their 1932 landslide.

At the 1938 election the government's majority was significantly reduced, partially due to the recession of 1938, and partially due to the revitalised Social Democrats led by


By 1945 the National Party was associated with the depression of the 1930s and the wartime hardships of the 1940s. The Social Democrats won the 1945 election in a landslide.

Opposition 1945-1951[]

Few in the National party had expected defeat in 1945, let alone Richard Lynton.

"The English Miracle" 1951-1969[]

Armstrong led the National Party to a narrow election victory in 1951. 

The period from 1951 onward saw a significant increase in economic growth, and very low unemployment. The favourable economic conditions resulted in the National Party, first under Charles Armstrong and then Anthony Edwards winning progressively increased majorities at the 1954, 1957, 1960 and 1963 elections. 

Throughout this period the National Party built up a formidable electoral machine, with in excess of two million party members.  

In 1960 Armstrong stood down and Chancellor Anthony Edwards was elected unopposed as his successor. Edwards was widely considered the architect of England's economic prosperity, and led the National Party to another electoral victory only eight weeks after assuming office.

The 1966 election saw the National Party lose seats and votes for the first time in 21 years, largely as a response to the reformed SDP led by Arthur Brown. 

In May 1968 the increasingly unpopular Edwards retired from office, being succeeded by John Cattermole. Cattermole proved unable to restore the government's stability or its popularity, despite the economy remaining strong.

Opposition 1969-1977[]

Arthur Brown led the Social Democrats to victory in 1969. John Cattermole initially sought to remain leader of the National Party in opposition, but was ousted in the autumn by James Beauchamp. Beauchamp sought to move the party back toward the centre ground, but in doing so regularly alienated those on the right wing of the party. He faced down leadership challenges in 1970 and 1971 by Eric Harding and Geoffrey Gilmore respectively. The 1972 election saw the SDP increase their majority in parliament, and the National Party lose 20 seats. Beauchamp was subsequently challenged again by Harding, this time being defeated decisively.

Eric Harding was seen as hailing more from the conservative wing of the party, and had held numerous ministerial responsibilities under Armstrong, Edwards and Cattermole. Much of the internal organisation of the party had changed little since the 1940s, and increasingly seemed out of date. The National Party was organised primarily at the constituency level, and its national organisation was weak and disorganised.

Harding Government 1977-1982[]

The 1977 election resulted in the biggest National Party landslide since 1935. Harding became Prime Minister during a period of extreme economic difficulty, with low economic growth and high inflation creating the economic phenomena of stagflation. During the late 1970s unemployment reached its highest rate since the 1930s. 

The government was re-elected with a greatly reduced majority at the 1980 general election. After the election internal cabinet discipline began to break down and cabinet disagreements over economic policy became public.  

Opposition 1982-1988[]

Harding resigned the day after the election, taking full responsibility for the defeat of the government. The subsequent leadership election saw Rodney Bowles narrowly defeat Andrew Williams.

During this period a growing economically liberal wing to the party emerged, led first by John Cattermole and later by Megan Taylor. 

Taylor Era 1988-2001[]

Megan Taylor became leader of the National Party on January 26th 1988.

Taylor led the National Party to an historic victory in the 1990 general election, wining 425 seats and over 50% of the popular vote. In government the National Party embarked a radical reform programme of privatisation and tax cuts. The National Party was re-elected at the 1993 election with a significantly reduced majority.   

At the 1999 general election Taylor was re-elected for an unprecedented fourth term as Prime Minister, albeit with a narrow majority of only 18 seats. Despite a strong economy and low unemployment there was widespread discontent with Taylor personally and a strong desire for political change. In November 2001 she was defeated for the leadership of the National Party by Chancellor of the Exchequer Richard Palmer.   

Palmer and Silverman 2001-2008[]

Palmer sought to move the National Party back toward the political centre, adopting more liberal stances on issues such as civil partnership for same sex couples and immigration. His appointment of Taylorite Stacey Silverman as Chancellor of the Exchequer was considered a bid for party unity.

Despite predictions of a victory for the Social Democrats, the National Party won the 2002 election, becoming the first incumbent National government since 1963 to increase its majority.

Trevelyan 2008-2013[]

Silverman 2013-present[]

​The National Party won the 2014 general election, winning 331 out of 601 seats in parliament.

The 2017 election saw the National

Ideology and Factions[]

The National Party currently describes itself as a liberal conservative party, supporting economic liberalism, fiscal conservatism and adopts a more centrist social policy.

From its inception until the 1980s the party could be divided into two main camps, of liberals and conservatives.

Since the late 1980s the National Party has strongly supported economic liberalism. The Taylor government in the 1990s embarked on a radical programme to privatise many previously state owned industries, reduce taxation and shrink the role of the state in providing public services.

The party has traditionally been strongly pro-European, however in recent years the party has become increasingly nationalist.

The party has been divided over the legacy of, and its attitude to, Megan Taylor. Taylor was by far the National Party's most electorally successful leader, but her policies were controversial to many. Some on the more centrist wing of the party, such as Richard Palmer, have sought to distance the party from Taylor and move back toward the centre-right of the political spectrum, others such as Stacy Silverman have sought to defend Taylor's legacy and make the Nationals a more conservative oriented party.

Leadership[]

Party Leaders[]

Charles Armstrong 1947-1960

Anthony Edwards 1960-1968

John Cattermole 1968-1969

James Beauchamp 1969-1972

1972-1982 Eric Harding

1982-1985

1985-1988 Rodney Bowles

Megan Taylor 1988-2001

Richard Palmer 2001-2006

Stacey Silverman 2006-2008

Felix Trevelyan 2008-2013

Stacy Silverman 2013 -

Leadership elections[]

1972

1982

1987

2001

2005

Deputy Leaders[]

​Anthony Edwards 1948-1960

Stacy Silverman 2003-2006


Electoral Performance[]

Election Seats +/- % Result Leader
1932 402 - National Victory
1935 362 -40 National Victory
1938 National Victory
1939 349 National Victory
1942 343 -6 National Victory
1945 167 -176 SDP Victory
1948 254 +87 SDP Victory Charles Armstrong
1951 279 +25 National Victory Charles Armstrong
1954 293 +14 National Victory Charles Armstrong
1957 300 +7 National Victory Charles Armstrong
1960 318 +18 National Victory Anthony Edwards
1963 336 +18 National Victory Anthony Edwards
1966 304 -32 National Victory Anthony Edwards
1969 257 -47 SDP Victory John Cattermole
1972 241 -16 SDP Victory James Beauchamp
1975 274 +33 SDP Victory Eric Harding
1977 349 +75 National Victory Eric Harding
1980 296 -53 National Victory Eric Harding
1982 249 -47 SDP Victory Eric Harding
1984 247 -2 SDP Victory
1987 263 +16 SDP Victory Rodney Bowles
1990 425 +182 50.6 National Victory Megan Taylor
1993 378 -47 National Victory Megan Taylor
1996 355 -23 National Victory Megan Taylor
1999 321 -34 National Victory Megan Taylor
2002 326 +5 National Victory Richard Palmer
2005 312 -14 National Victory Richard Palmer
2008 SDP Victory Felix Trevelyan
2011 SDP Victory Felix Trevelyan
2014 331 National Victory Stacy Silverman
2017 361 +30 National Victory Stacy Silverman
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