A Red Tory is an adherent of a particular political philosophy, tradition, and disposition in Canada somewhat similar to the High Tory tradition in the United Kingdom; it is contrasted with "blue Tory". In Canada, the phenomenon of red toryism has fundamentally, if not exclusively, been found in provincial and federal Conservative political parties. It is a definable historical legacy that marks differences in the creation, development, and evolution of the political cultures of Canada and the United States. Canadian conservatism and American conservatism are different from each other in fundamental ways.
The term Red Tory has been revived in recent years by individuals such as the British philosopher and Director of the ResPublica think tank, Phillip Blond, to promote a radical communitarian traditionalist conservatism which inveighs against welfare state monopoly as well as market monopolies. Instead, it respects traditional values and institutions, localism, devolution of powers from the central governments to local communities, small businesses, volunteerism and favours empowering social enterprises, charities and other elements of civil society to solve problems such as poverty.
Read more about Red Tory: Philosophy, Origins, Predominance, Decline, Merger of Federal Parties, Definition Drift, Revival in Provincial Politics
Famous quotes containing the words red and/or tory:
“Compared to Clouseau, Attila the Hun was a Red Cross volunteer.”
—Blake Edwards (b. 1922)
“I’ll sing you a new ballad, and I’ll warrant it first-rate,
Of the days of that old gentleman who had that old estate;
When they spent the public money at a bountiful old rate
On ev’ry mistress, pimp, and scamp, at ev’ry noble gate,
In the fine old English Tory times;”
—Charles Dickens (1812–1890)