Conservative Party, The

synonyms: The Conservative and Unionist Party One of the two main British political parties. Historically the Conservative Party was closely aligned with the Unionists in opposition to Home Rule for Ireland. However, with the onset of 'the Troubles' the relationship between the Conservatives and the Unionists became more circumspect. Unionists were infuriated when the Conservative Government of the day suspended the Stormont Government in Northern Ireland in 1972. Since 1974 the Conservative Party has not extended the Whip to Unionist Members of Parliament who have sat in the opposition benches. From 1979 to 1997 the Conservative Party formed the government of the United Kingdom after winning four successive general election victories in 1979, 1983, 1987 and 1992. During this period the issue of Northern Ireland was often high on the political agenda most notably during the Republican hunger strikes (1980 and 1981), the Anglo-Irish Agreement (1985), the inter-party talks (1991-92), and the emergence by the mid 1990s of the 'peace process' which led to the declaration of ceasefires by the main loyalist and republican paramilitary groups in 1994. (See also: Conservative Party of Northern Ireland.)