The Conservative Party and the Middle East: 1955–57

Abstract

The Suez crisis was the most divisive event to confront the Conservatives since 1940, and very nearly broke the back of the party in the aftermath of military intervention. There were several decisive domestic and foreign developments prior to July 1956 which helped the frustrated, angry, yet containable group of July 1954 evolve into the faction that seized the ear of the party and the Prime Minister in 1956, setting the parameters of party debate on the best way to deal with Nasser’s challenge to Britain’s position in the Middle East. These developments were Churchill’s resignation from the premiership in April 1955, Conservative opinion of Eden as Prime Minister, and events in Cyprus, Egypt and Jordan.