The British Conservative Party and European Policy since 1997: A Historical Institutionalist Analysis.

On his election as leader of the Conservative Party in December 2005, David Cameron acknowledged that his party had focused too much of its time ‘banging on about Europe’ and too little time on the issues that mattered most to the electorate. While initially successful at focusing on non-European issues in opposition, since returning to government in 2010 the Conservative Party has once again found Europe a contentious policy area, culminating in two major speeches in January 2013 (committing a future Conservative government to hold an In/Out referendum on EU membership – a policy Cameron rejected had previously rejected) and November 2014 (a policy commitment to reduce EU immigration). This period highlights the continued and unresolved tension at heart of the Conservatives relationship with European integration, one that has haunted the party since the downfall of Margaret Thatcher. What factors account for how and why the Conservatives have shifted policy positions on European policy during this period? This presentation will explore the drivers of change in political parties in relation to policy positions, before concluding by arguing why an historical Institutionalist approach provides an effective theoretical framework for explaining the development of European policy within the Conservative Party during this period.