1. ^aSchool of Politics and International Relations, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK. E-mail: andrew.denham@nottingham.ac.uk
2. ^bSchool of Electronics and Computer Science, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK. E-mail: kmo@ecs.soton.ac.uk

Abstract

This paper examines British Conservatism and 'modernization', principally since 1945. We argue that Conservative 'modernization' in opposition has typically embraced three elements: leadership, policy and organization. The precise nature of 'modernization', we suggest, differed in each opposition period since 1945, and with mixed results. We then review the Conservative leadership election of 2005, in which three of the four contenders (the exception being Kenneth Clarke) offered different accounts of what 'modernization' should entail. We conclude that there is still no consensus among British Conservatives on this vital question; that David Cameron's 'modernization project' is by no means assured of ultimate victory in the Party; and that, based on the experience of previous periods of Conservative opposition in British politics, 'modernization' per se is unlikely to deliver a Conservative victory at the next General Election.