Cyber Toryism

Abstract

Chapter 8 is used to develop the case for Cyber Toryism as a cultural singularity in the history of the Conservative Party in existence mainly between 2008 and 2010. The chapter concludes that generally the internet acted like a lubricant oiling Conservative Party processes, which in turn resulted in greater fluidity within networks and organizational and campaign operations. It is argued that this loosening of centralized control allowed for shifting power dynamics and subsequent culture change to occur. It is found that the younger cohorts were central to this change in party culture, which had remained more traditional since John Major’s leadership; and that the advent of David Cameron’s leadership acted to punctuate, in other words speed-up, technocultural evolutions in the life of the wider party.