Editing Liberal conservatism (section)

{{Short description|Political ideology within conservatism}}
{{About|the political philosophy of conservatism as influenced by liberalism|the conservative wing of the liberal movement|Conservative liberalism}}
{{Distinguish|Libertarian conservatism}}
{{Conservatism sidebar|variants}}
{{Liberalism sidebar|related}}
'''Liberal conservatism''' is a [[Ideology|political ideology]] combining [[Conservatism|conservative]] policies with [[Liberalism|liberal]] stances, especially on [[Economic liberalism|economic]] issues but also on [[social liberalism|social]] and [[Ethics|ethical]] matters,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.parties-and-elections.eu/content.html|date=2020|title=Content|website=Parties and Elections in Europe|first=Wolfram|last=Nordsieck}}</ref> representing a brand of political conservatism strongly influenced by liberalism.

The ideology incorporates the [[Classical liberalism|classical liberal]] view of minimal [[economic interventionism|government intervention]] in the economy, according to which individuals should be free to participate in the [[Market (economics)|market]] and [[Wealth creation|generate wealth]] without government interference.{{sfn|McAnulla|2006|p=71}} However, liberal conservatives also hold that individuals cannot be thoroughly depended on to act responsibly in other spheres of life; therefore, they believe that a strong state is necessary to ensure [[law and order (politics)|law and order]] and that social [[institution]]s are needed to nurture a sense of duty and responsibility to the nation.{{sfn|McAnulla|2006|p=71}} Liberal conservatives also support [[civil liberties]], along with some [[Social conservatism|socially conservative]] positions. They differ on [[Social issue|social issues]], with some being socially conservative and others socially liberal, though all liberal conservatives broadly support the [[rule of law]] regarding [[civil rights]], [[social equality]] and [[environmental issues|the environment]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gibbon |first=Gary |date=7 October 2015 |title=David Cameron tries to return to his liberal Conservatism mission |url=https://www.channel4.com/news/by/gary-gibbon/blogs/david-cameron-return-liberal-conservatism-mission |website=Channel 4 News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=What was David Cameron's Conservatism? (overview) |url=https://www.britpolitics.co.uk/a-level-uk-political-parties-david-cameron-conservatism/ |website=Britpolitics}}</ref> This is equated with the creation of a [[Group cohesiveness|cohesive]] and [[Toleration|tolerant]] society with increased levels of [[Moral responsibility|individual responsibility]] and less [[Social inequality|inequality]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Redford |first=Pete |title=Cameron and Welfare: Questioning the liberal Conservatism project |url=https://eprints.lse.ac.uk/48440/1/blogs.lse.ac.uk-Cameron_and_Welfare_Questioning_the_liberal_Conservatism_project.pdf |publisher=LSE Research Online}}</ref>

Liberal conservatism shares the classical liberal tenets of a commitment to [[individualism]], belief in [[negative liberty|negative freedom]], a lightly regulated free market, and a minimal [[rule of law]] state.{{sfn|Vincent|2009|p=335}} A number of commentators have stated that many conservative currents in the 1980s, such as [[Thatcherism]],{{sfn|McAnulla|2006|p=71}} were rejuvenated classical liberals in all but name.{{sfn|Vincent|2009|p=335}} However, in contrast to classical liberalism, there is a stronger social agenda and support for a greater degree of state intervention, especially in those areas of social life which liberal conservatives believe should not be subject to market forces.{{sfn|Vincent|2009|p=335}} Particularly in regards to the family, sexuality, health and education, these should either always be periodically regulated or minimally protected by the state.{{sfn|Vincent|2009|p=335}}