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{{Short description|Factions in the British Conservative Party}} |
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{{Redirect2|Wets|dries|supporters and opponents of prohibition|Prohibition in the United States|the name|Dries (given name)}} |
{{Redirect2|Wets|dries|supporters and opponents of prohibition|Prohibition in the United States|the name|Dries (given name)}} |
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{{Thatcherism|organisations}} |
{{Thatcherism|organisations}} |
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During the 1980s, members of the moderate wing of the British [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]] who opposed some of the more [[Thatcherism|hard-line policies]] of Prime Minister [[Margaret Thatcher]] were often referred to by their opponents as "'''wets'''". Thatcher coined the usage in 1979–80, with the meaning of feeble, lacking hardness, or willing to compromise with the unions.{{sfn|Safire|2008|p=802}} The label was especially applied to senior members of her government who were nevertheless outside Thatcher's inner circle and who expressed opposition to her strict [[monetarism|monetarist]] policies designed to tackle inflation, and her cuts to public spending.{{sfn|Young|1989|pp=198–202}} |
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'''Wets''' and '''dries''' are [[Politics of the United Kingdom|British political]] terms that refer to opposing factions within the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]].<!-- note to editors: please be aware not to confuse the colloquial American use of the term "liberal" with the global and/or political science use of the term. It is an error of terminology to describe the more left wing side of the UK Tory party of the 1980s as "liberal". The right wing of the Tory party at the time, the radical Thatcherites, were pursuing economic liberalism; it is the "dries" that were the right wing liberals, not the moderate "wets". |
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"left wing" (when used relatively) and to some extent "moderate" are appropriate terms. --> The terms originated in the 1980s during the premiership of [[Margaret Thatcher]]: those who opposed some of Thatcher's more [[Thatcherism|hard-line policies]] were often referred to by their opponents as "wets"; in response, supporters of Thatcher were referred to as "dries". |
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==Etymology== |
==Etymology== |
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In British slang, "wet" meant "inept, ineffectual, effete".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.oed.com/viewdictionaryentry/Entry/227970|title=Oxford English Dictionary|website=Oxford English Dictionary}}</ref> Within the political context, the term was used by Thatcher's supporters as both as a noun and as an adjective to characterise people or policies which Thatcher would have considered weak or "wet". |
In British slang, "wet" meant weak, "inept, ineffectual, effete".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.oed.com/viewdictionaryentry/Entry/227970|title=Oxford English Dictionary|website=Oxford English Dictionary}}</ref> Within the political context, the term was used by Thatcher's supporters as both as a noun and as an adjective to characterise people or policies which Thatcher would have considered weak or "wet". Thatcher coined the usage in 1979–80, with the meaning of feeble, lacking hardness, or willing to compromise with [[Labor unions in the United Kingdom|the unions]].{{sfn|Safire|2008|p=802}} The label was especially applied to senior members of Thatcher's government who were nevertheless outside her inner circle and who expressed opposition to her strict [[monetarism|monetarist]] policies, and her cuts to public spending.{{sfn|Young|1989|pp=198–202}} |
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==History== |
==History== |
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| ⚫ | [[Hugo Young]] identifies the most important "inner" wets as [[Jim Prior]], [[Peter Walker, Baron Walker of Worcester|Peter Walker]], and [[Ian Gilmour, Baron Gilmour of Craigmillar|Sir Ian Gilmour]], as well as [[Peter Carington, 6th Baron Carrington|Lord Carrington]] and [[Norman St John-Stevas]]. The "outer" wets were more fragmented and less visible. They included [[Francis Pym]], [[Michael Heseltine]] and [[Quintin Hogg, Baron Hailsham of St Marylebone|Lord Hailsham]].{{sfn|Young|1989|pp=199–200}} |
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===United Kingdom=== |
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| ⚫ | [[Hugo Young]] identifies the most important "inner" wets as [[Jim Prior]], [[Peter Walker, Baron Walker of Worcester|Peter Walker]], and [[Sir Ian Gilmour]], as well as [[Peter Carington, 6th Baron Carrington|Lord Carrington]] and [[Norman St John-Stevas]]. The "outer" wets were more fragmented and less visible. They included [[Francis Pym]], [[Michael Heseltine]] and [[Quintin Hogg, Baron Hailsham of St Marylebone|Lord Hailsham]].{{sfn|Young|1989|pp=199–200}} |
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Gilmour was the most outspoken, delivering a lecture at Cambridge in February 1980 where he argued: "In the Conservative view, [[economic liberalism]] à la [[Friedrich Hayek|Professor Hayek]], because of its starkness and its failure to create a sense of community, is not a safeguard of political freedom but a threat to it."{{sfn|Young|1989|p=200}} |
Gilmour was the most outspoken, delivering a lecture at Cambridge in February 1980 where he argued: "In the Conservative view, [[economic liberalism]] à la [[Friedrich Hayek|Professor Hayek]], because of its starkness and its failure to create a sense of community, is not a safeguard of political freedom but a threat to it."{{sfn|Young|1989|p=200}} |
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In the 1980s [[Nicholas Scott#1975-1990|Nick's Diner]] was started.<ref>{{Cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qps14mSlghcC&dq=nicks+Diner+conservative+wets&pg=PA60 |title = Encyclopedia of British and Irish Political Organizations: Parties, Groups and Movements of the 20th Century|isbn = 9780826458148|last1 = Barberis|first1 = Peter|last2 = McHugh|first2 = John|last3 = Tyldesley|first3 = Mike|date = January 2000}}</ref> Named in honour of [[Nicholas Scott]], at the time a rising star of the anti-Thatcher wing of the Party, it served as a convivial meeting ground for wet MPs.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/sir-nicholas-scott-14227.html | title=Sir Nicholas Scott| website=[[Independent.co.uk]]| date=2005-01-10}}</ref> |
In the 1980s, [[Nicholas Scott#1975-1990|Nick's Diner]] was started.<ref>{{Cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qps14mSlghcC&dq=nicks+Diner+conservative+wets&pg=PA60 |title = Encyclopedia of British and Irish Political Organizations: Parties, Groups and Movements of the 20th Century|isbn = 9780826458148|last1 = Barberis|first1 = Peter|last2 = McHugh|first2 = John|last3 = Tyldesley|first3 = Mike|date = January 2000| publisher=A&C Black }}</ref> Named in honour of [[Nicholas Scott]], at the time a rising star of the anti-Thatcher wing of the Party, it served as a convivial meeting ground for wet MPs.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/sir-nicholas-scott-14227.html | title=Sir Nicholas Scott| website=[[Independent.co.uk]]| date=2005-01-10}}</ref> |
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In retaliation to being labelled as "wet", Thatcher's opponents within the party began referring to her supporters as the " |
In retaliation to being labelled as "wet", Thatcher's opponents within the party began referring to her supporters as the "dries".<ref name="Biffen_Obit_BBC">{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6945600.stm|title=Obituary: Lord Biffen|publisher=[[BBC News]]|date=2007-08-14|access-date=2012-03-20}}</ref> |
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Policies which came to be labelled as "dry" included foremostly reducing public spending, cutting taxes, raising interest rates, tightly controlling the money supply, and reducing the regulatory power of the state – all policies which were closely associated with Thatcher. |
Policies which came to be labelled as "dry" included foremostly reducing public spending, cutting taxes, raising interest rates, tightly controlling the money supply, and reducing the regulatory power of the state – all policies which were closely associated with Thatcher. |
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Outside of the Parliamentary Conservative Party, the youth sections of the Party saw increasingly bitter factional battles between "wets" and "dries". The [[Young Conservatives (UK)|Young Conservatives]] wing of the party remained in the hands of a strong "wet" and [[One-nation conservatism|One Nation]] ([[Tory Reform Group]]) faction until 1989, whilst the [[Federation of Conservative Students]] remained in the hands of an alliance of libertarian and [[Monday Club]] supporters.{{citation needed|date=April 2019}} |
Outside of the Parliamentary Conservative Party, the youth sections of the Party saw increasingly bitter factional battles between "wets" and "dries". The [[Young Conservatives (UK)|Young Conservatives]] wing of the party remained in the hands of a strong "wet" and [[One-nation conservatism|One Nation]] ([[Tory Reform Group]]) faction until 1989, whilst the [[Federation of Conservative Students]] remained in the hands of an alliance of libertarian and [[Monday Club]] supporters.{{citation needed|date=April 2019}} |
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===Australia=== |
=== Australia === |
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A similar factional identification exists in the [[Liberal Party of Australia]], which is also a centre-right party like the Tories |
A similar factional identification exists in the [[Liberal Party of Australia]], which is also a centre-right party like the Tories. The Australian Liberal Party also has a similar split, but in terms of social policy between right-wing social conservatives and [[Moderates (Liberal Party of Australia)|socially progressive]] Liberals.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thewest.com.au/politics/turnbull-prays-for-broad-liberal-church-ng-s-1747853|title=Turnbull prays for broad Liberal church|date=July 12, 2017|website=The West Australian}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=A Marxist analysis of the Liberal Party |url=http://redflag.org.au/index.php/node/6753 |website=Red Flag}}</ref> |
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==Notable parliamentary members== |
==Notable parliamentary members== |
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{{Conservatism UK}} |
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===Wets=== |
===Wets=== |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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* [[Fundamentalists and gradualists]] |
* [[Fundamentalists and gradualists]] |
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* [[One-nation conservatism]] |
* [[One-nation conservatism]] |
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* [[Red Tory]] |
* [[Red Tory]] |
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* [[Young Conservatives (UK)|Young Conservatives]] |
* [[Young Conservatives (UK)|Young Conservatives]] |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{Reflist}} |
{{Reflist}} |
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== |
=== Sources === |
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* {{citation |
* {{citation |
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|last=Safire |
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[[Category:History of the Conservative Party (UK)]] |
[[Category:History of the Conservative Party (UK)]] |
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[[Category:Political |
[[Category:Political terminology in the United Kingdom]] |
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[[Category:Margaret Thatcher]] |
[[Category:Margaret Thatcher]] |
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[[Category:Conservative Party (UK) factions]] |
[[Category:Conservative Party (UK) factions]] |
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Latest revision as of 16:58, 4 December 2024
| Part of the politics series on |
| Thatcherism |
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.jpg) |
Wets and dries are British political terms that refer to opposing factions within the Conservative Party. The terms originated in the 1980s during the premiership of Margaret Thatcher: those who opposed some of Thatcher's more hard-line policies were often referred to by their opponents as "wets"; in response, supporters of Thatcher were referred to as "dries".
Etymology
[edit]In British slang, "wet" meant weak, "inept, ineffectual, effete".[1] Within the political context, the term was used by Thatcher's supporters as both as a noun and as an adjective to characterise people or policies which Thatcher would have considered weak or "wet". Thatcher coined the usage in 1979–80, with the meaning of feeble, lacking hardness, or willing to compromise with the unions.[2] The label was especially applied to senior members of Thatcher's government who were nevertheless outside her inner circle and who expressed opposition to her strict monetarist policies, and her cuts to public spending.[3]
History
[edit]Hugo Young identifies the most important "inner" wets as Jim Prior, Peter Walker, and Sir Ian Gilmour, as well as Lord Carrington and Norman St John-Stevas. The "outer" wets were more fragmented and less visible. They included Francis Pym, Michael Heseltine and Lord Hailsham.[4]
Gilmour was the most outspoken, delivering a lecture at Cambridge in February 1980 where he argued: "In the Conservative view, economic liberalism à la Professor Hayek, because of its starkness and its failure to create a sense of community, is not a safeguard of political freedom but a threat to it."[5]
In the 1980s, Nick's Diner was started.[6] Named in honour of Nicholas Scott, at the time a rising star of the anti-Thatcher wing of the Party, it served as a convivial meeting ground for wet MPs.[7]
In retaliation to being labelled as "wet", Thatcher's opponents within the party began referring to her supporters as the "dries".[8] Policies which came to be labelled as "dry" included foremostly reducing public spending, cutting taxes, raising interest rates, tightly controlling the money supply, and reducing the regulatory power of the state – all policies which were closely associated with Thatcher.
Outside of the Parliamentary Conservative Party, the youth sections of the Party saw increasingly bitter factional battles between "wets" and "dries". The Young Conservatives wing of the party remained in the hands of a strong "wet" and One Nation (Tory Reform Group) faction until 1989, whilst the Federation of Conservative Students remained in the hands of an alliance of libertarian and Monday Club supporters.[citation needed]
Australia
[edit]A similar factional identification exists in the Liberal Party of Australia, which is also a centre-right party like the Tories. The Australian Liberal Party also has a similar split, but in terms of social policy between right-wing social conservatives and socially progressive Liberals.[9][10]
Notable parliamentary members
[edit]| This article is part of a series on |
| Conservatism in the United Kingdom |
|---|
.svg) |
Wets
[edit]Dries
[edit]See also
[edit]- Fundamentalists and gradualists
- List of ministers under Margaret Thatcher
- One-nation conservatism
- Red Tory
- Young Conservatives
References
[edit]- ^ "Oxford English Dictionary". Oxford English Dictionary.
- ^ Safire 2008, p. 802.
- ^ Young 1989, pp. 198–202.
- ^ Young 1989, pp. 199–200.
- ^ Young 1989, p. 200.
- ^ Barberis, Peter; McHugh, John; Tyldesley, Mike (January 2000). Encyclopedia of British and Irish Political Organizations: Parties, Groups and Movements of the 20th Century. A&C Black. ISBN 9780826458148.
- ^ "Sir Nicholas Scott". Independent.co.uk. 2005-01-10.
- ^ "Obituary: Lord Biffen". BBC News. 2007-08-14. Retrieved 2012-03-20.
- ^ "Turnbull prays for broad Liberal church". The West Australian. July 12, 2017.
- ^ "A Marxist analysis of the Liberal Party". Red Flag.
- ^ "Former minister Lord Gilmour dies". BBC News. 2007-09-21. Retrieved 2012-03-20.
- ^ "Former foreign secretary Pym dies". BBC News. 2008-03-07. Retrieved 2012-03-20.
- ^ "Obituary: Sir Nicholas Scott". BBC News. 2005-01-07. Retrieved 2012-03-20.
- ^ "George Young". BBC News. 2002-10-17. Retrieved 2012-03-20.
- ^ a b Hennessy, Peter (2001-10-05). The Prime Minister: The Office and Its Holders Since 1945. Palgrave Macmillan. p. 409.
Sources
[edit]- Safire, William (2008), Safire's Political Dictionary, Oxford University Press, ISBN 9780195343342
- Young, Hugo (1989), One of Us: A Biography of Mrs. Thatcher, Pan, ISBN 9780330328418
