Ronald Reagan vs. Margaret Thatcher

[Christian Man]

Thatcher had less of an impact on British conservatism than Reagan did on American so her.

[Christian Man]

Thatcher had less of an impact on British conservatism than Reagan did on American so her.

Is that actually true, though?

In my view it seems like the Conservative Party is more of a big tent compared to the GOP. I don't consider the One Nation Conservatives to be fiscally conservative, but if a registered Republican criticized Reaganomics, they wouldn't last a chance in the GOP primary and if they somehow did, they'd be labeled as a "RINO" or worse.

[Christian Man]

Thatcher had less of an impact on British conservatism than Reagan did on American so her.

Is that actually true, though?

Seems true. US Republicans are way to the right of UK Tories, but prior to Reagan I’m not sure that was the case. I mean Nixon and Eisenhower were New Dealers but GOP since Reagan would like to repeal everything. But Tories are still whatever the equivalent of a New Dealer is in the UK. Support the NHS ad various other programs.

Even in the case of Eisenhower and Nixon this is still the case. While both of them were clearly to the left of the post-Reagan GOP, The UK Conservatives endorsed universal healthcare and former prime minister Eden respected Stalin. While former VP Henry Wallace who ran to Truman's left favored better relations with the Soviet Union, he didn't go that far.

[Christian Man]

Thatcher had less of an impact on British conservatism than Reagan did on American so her.

Is that actually true, though?

In my view it seems like the Conservative Party is more of a big tent compared to the GOP. I don't consider the One Nation Conservatives to be fiscally conservative, but if a registered Republican criticized Reaganomics, they wouldn't last a chance in the GOP primary and if they somehow did, they'd be labeled as a "RINO" or worse.

I mean both Austerity and Brexit are Thatcherite policies and those have been the primary Tory policies over the past 14 years

And the party was divided on both of those issues. Brexit would've failed if it wasn't for the leftists. At least in theory you could criticize Thatcher and still be a member of the party. There's no way someone could do the same when it came to Reagan even as Trump has taken over as the figurehead.