Conservative orators

Examines the oratory and rhetoric of twelve key figures from Conservative Party politics

Examines the oratory and rhetoric of twelve key figures from Conservative Party politics

How do leading Conservative politicians strive to communicate with and influence the electorate? Why have some been more effective than others in advancing their personal positions and ideological agendas? How do they seek to connect with their audience in different settings, such as the party conference, House of Commons, and through the media?This book draws analytical inspiration from the Aristotelian modes of persuasion to shine new and insightful light upon the articulation of British conservatism, examining the oratory and rhetoric of twelve key figures from Conservative Party politics. Each chapter is written by an expert in the field and explores how its subject attempted to use oratory to advance their agenda within the party and beyond.This is the first book to analyse Conservative Party politics in this way, and marks an important new departure in the analysis of British politics.

Introduction: Analysing oratory in Conservative Party politics – Richard Hayton and Andrew S. Crines1. The oratory of Stanley Baldwin – Andrew Taylor2. The oratory of Winston Churchill – Kevin Theakston3. The oratory of Harold Macmillan – Brendan Evans4. The oratory of Iain Macleod – Mark Garnett5. The oratory of Enoch Powell – Philip Norton6. The oratory of Keith Joseph – Mark Garnett7. The oratory of Margaret Thatcher – Peter Dorey8. The oratory of Michael Heseltine – Mark Bennister9. The oratory of John Major – Timothy Heppell and Thomas McMeeking10. The oratory of William Hague – Judi Atkins11. The oratory of Boris Johnson – Katharine Dommett12. The oratory of David Cameron – Tim BaleConclusion: oratory and rhetoric in Conservative Party politics – Richard Hayton and Andrew S. CrinesIndex