Editing Conservative Party (UK) (section)

=== Domestic policy ===
==== Constitutional policy ====
Traditionally the Conservative Party has supported the uncodified [[constitution of the United Kingdom]] and its traditional [[Westminster system]] of [[Politics of the United Kingdom|politics]]. The party opposed many of [[Tony Blair]]'s reforms, such as the removal of the hereditary peers,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/216872.stm |title=Blair attacks hereditary peers |work=BBC News |date=18 November 1998 |access-date=18 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030223090951/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/216872.stm |archive-date=23 February 2003 |url-status=live }}</ref> the incorporation of the [[European Convention on Human Rights]] into British law, and the 2009 creation of the [[Supreme Court of the United Kingdom]], a function formerly [[Lords of Appeal in Ordinary|carried out by the House of Lords]].

There was also a split on whether to introduce a British Bill of Rights that would replace the [[Human Rights Act 1998]]; David Cameron expressed support, but party [[grandee]] Ken Clarke described it as "xenophobic and legal nonsense".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/5120894.stm |title=Clarke slams Cameron rights plan |work=BBC News |date=27 June 2006 |access-date=18 June 2013 |archive-date=8 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211108140559/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/5120894.stm |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2019 the Conservatives' manifesto committed to a broad constitutional review in a line which read "after Brexit we also need to look at the broader aspects of our constitution: the relationship between the government, parliament and the courts".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Leybourn |first1=Heather |title=The threat to our democracy buried in the Tory manifesto |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/dec/11/the-threat-to-our-democracy-buried-in-the-tory-manifesto |work=The Guardian |date=11 December 2019 |access-date=19 January 2021 |archive-date=11 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210211190827/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/dec/11/the-threat-to-our-democracy-buried-in-the-tory-manifesto |url-status=live }}</ref>

==== Justice, crime and security policy ====
In 2010 the Conservatives campaigned to cut the perceived bureaucracy of the modern police force and pledged greater legal protection to people convicted of defending themselves against intruders.

The party has also campaigned for the creation of a UK Bill of Rights to replace the [[Human Rights Act 1998]], but this was vetoed by their coalition partners the [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrats]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Klug |first=Francesca |date=2010-04-14 |title=Why Lib Dems reject bill of rights |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2010/apr/14/human-rights-reform-manifestos |access-date=2024-07-02 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> The Conservatives' 2017 manifesto pledged to create a national infrastructure police force, subsuming the existing [[British Transport Police]]; [[Civil Nuclear Constabulary]]; and [[Ministry of Defence Police]] "to improve the protection of critical infrastructure such as nuclear sites, railways and the strategic road network".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Walker |first1=Andy |title=Labour slams PM for failure to create national infrastructure police force |url=http://www.infrastructure-intelligence.com/article/apr-2018/labour-slams-pm-failure-create-national-infrastructure-police-force |website=Infrastructure Intelligence |access-date=19 January 2021 |archive-date=28 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128033224/http://www.infrastructure-intelligence.com/article/apr-2018/labour-slams-pm-failure-create-national-infrastructure-police-force |url-status=live }}</ref>

==== Education and research ====
In education, the Conservatives pledged to review the [[National Curriculum]], introduce the English Baccalaureate, and reform [[GCSE]], [[A-level]], other national qualifications, apprenticeships and training.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Apprenticeship Expansion in England |url=https://www.americanprogress.org/article/apprenticeship-expansion-in-england/ |website=Center for American Progress Action Fund}}</ref> The restoration of discipline was also highlighted, as they want it to be easier for pupils to be searched for contraband items, the granting of anonymity to teachers accused by pupils, and the banning of expelled pupils being returned to schools via appeal panels.

In higher education, the Conservatives have increased tuition fees to £9,250 per year, however have ensured that this will not be paid by anyone until they are earning over £25,000. The Scottish Conservatives also support the re-introduction of tuition fees in Scotland. In 2016 the Conservative government extended student loan access in England to postgraduate students to help improve access to education.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.ft.com/content/3fb9b3b8-eb8b-11e5-bb79-2303682345c8 |title=Student loans extended to postgraduates in Budget |work=FT.com |date=16 March 2016 |access-date=4 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170227150151/https://www.ft.com/content/3fb9b3b8-eb8b-11e5-bb79-2303682345c8 |archive-date=27 February 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Within the EU, the UK was one of the largest recipients of research funding in the [[European Union]], receiving £7 billion between 2007 and 2015, which is invested in universities and research-intensive businesses.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://royalsociety.org/topics-policy/projects/uk-research-and-european-union/role-of-EU-in-funding-UK-research/how-much-funding-does-uk-get-in-comparison-with-other-countries/|title=How much research funding does the UK get from the EU and how does this compare with other countries?|work=RoyalSociety.org|access-date=4 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170627152354/https://royalsociety.org/topics-policy/projects/uk-research-and-european-union/role-of-EU-in-funding-UK-research/how-much-funding-does-uk-get-in-comparison-with-other-countries/|archive-date=27 June 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Following the vote to leave the EU, Prime Minister [[Theresa May]] guaranteed that the Conservative government would protect funding for existing research and development projects in the UK.<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://www.nature.com/news/uk-government-gives-brexit-science-funding-guarantee-1.20434|title=UK government gives Brexit science funding guarantee|first=Daniel|last=Cressey|journal=Nature|access-date=4 April 2017|doi=10.1038/nature.2016.20434|year=2016|s2cid=168424106|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170402023208/http://www.nature.com/news/uk-government-gives-brexit-science-funding-guarantee-1.20434|archive-date=2 April 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2017, the Conservatives introduced the [[T Level]] qualification aimed at improving the teaching and administration of technical education.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/education-secretary-announces-first-new-t-levels |title=&#91;Withdrawn&#93; Education Secretary announces first new T Levels |date=15 October 2018 |access-date=8 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200708064417/https://www.gov.uk/government/news/education-secretary-announces-first-new-t-levels |archive-date=8 July 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref>