Primrose League - Disbandment

Disbandment

The Daily Telegraph reported on 16 December 2004, "this week saw a significant event for any observers of political history: after 121 years, the Primrose League was finally wound up. The league's aim was to promote Toryism across the country. 'In recent years, our meetings have become smaller and smaller,' says Lord Mowbray, one of the league's leading lights. Its remaining funds have been donated to Tory coffers. 'On Monday, I presented Michael Howard and Liam Fox with a cheque for £70,000,' adds Lord Mowbray proudly."

Since Mowbray's actions, many Tory members have expressed disquiet at the disbandment. In addition, a domain name has been registered, suggesting the League may surface again at some point.

Conservative Party Conference 2012: William Hague reclaims Disraeli for the Tories in partisan day one speech. After WIlliam Hague delivers the key speech on day one of the Conservative Party Conference, the Telegraph's Senior Political Correspondent Christopher Hope reviews his unusually partisan performance.

7:16PM BST 07 Oct 2012 In what Christopher Hope called an unusually political speech from the Foreign Secretary, William Hague tried to seize back Benjamin Disraeli for the Tories after Ed Miliband last week claimed the One Nation mantle for Labour.

Mr Miliband adopted the mantra as the theme for his keynote speech to delegates in Manchester, mentioning the phrase 46 times in 65 minutes.

But on the first day of the Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham, the Foreign Secretary said : "Ed Miliband, you are no Disraeli."

Mr Hague said: "Last week he (Mr Miliband) made claim to be Disraeli.

"We know a little more about Benjamin Disraeli, a great Conservative Prime Minister, than he does.

"Disraeli was defined by changing his party for the late 19th Century while Ed Miliband will be defined by refusing to change his Party for the 21st century."

The Foreign Secretary added: "Disraeli believed in fiscal discipline, in self-reliance, in building on historic strengths, in this country paying its way and in taxes being kept down.

"He was no deficit spender, but was careful to budget for a surplus.

"To borrow a turn of phrase, we were led by Disraeli, our predecessors knew Disraeli, Disraeli's beliefs were Conservative through and through, and, Ed Miliband, you are no Disraeli."