The Conservatives are back, and back with a bang– two election wins in a row and, providing they can hold things together, in a pretty good position to win another. But many questions about their recent past, present, and future still remain. Just why did the worlds oldest and most successful political party dump Margaret Thatcher only to commit electoral suicide under John Major? And what stopped the Tories getting their act together until David Cameron came along? Did Cameron change his party as much as he sometimes liked to claim, or did his leadership, both in opposition and in government, involve more compromise - and more Conservatism– than we realize? Finally, what does the result of the EU referendum mean for the Party in years to come?

The answers, as this accessible and gripping book shows, are as intriguing and provocative as the questions. Based on in-depth research and interviews with the key players, Tim Bale explains how and why the Tories lost power in 1997– and how and why they have eventually been able to rediscover their winning ways, even if internal tensions and external challenges mean they still cant take anything for granted. Crucial, he suggests, are the people, the power structures, the ideas, and the very different interests of those involved. This second edition ofThe Conservative Party: From Thatcher to Cameronis a must-read for anyone wanting to understand what makes the Tories tick.

Tim Bale is Professor of Politics at Queen Mary University of London, specialising in British and European party politics. His other books include The Conservatives since 1945 and Five Year Mission: the Labour Party under Ed Miliband. Tim has written for the Financial Times, the Guardian, the Observer and the Telegraph and appeared on radio and television to talk about politics. You can follow him on Twitter @ProfTimBale

Contents1 SOLVING THE PUZZLE: AN INTRODUCTION2 LOSING THE PLOT: THATCHER TO MAJOR, 1989-19973 TACTICS OVER STRATEGY: WILLIAM HAGUE, 1997-20014 ?SIMPLY NOT UP TO IT? : IAIN DUNCAN SMITH, 2001-20035 LIKE MOTHS TO A FLAME: MICHAEL HOWARD, 2003-20056 ?COMETH THE HOUR, COMETH THE DAVE? THE LONG LEADERSHIP CONTEST, MAY-DECEMBER 200517 ?THE POLITICS OF AND? : OPPOSITION, 2005-20108 ?THE NATIONAL INTEREST?COALITION AND MAJORITY GOVERNMENT, 2010-20159 GETTING THE MESSAGE: A CONCLUSION