Make Me a Tory
Encyclopedia
Make Me a Tory is a 2007 British
authored documentary
film directed by Daniel Cormack for Channel 4
.
in which he grew up and reflecting on how the influence of that predominantly left-wing
environment formed his political views. In spite of being born in 1979
as one of "Thatcher
's children", the "thought of nailing his colours to the Tory
mast" seems "nothing short of horrific". Nonetheless, since casting his first vote at the age of 18 in the Labour landslide of 1997 he has become increasingly disillusioned with the Labour government and wonders if he can "do the unthinkable and turn Tory".
Setting off on a journey around the country to meet Conservatives, he starts by revisiting his alma mater
, Oxford University where he "first met people who were actually Conservatives". He is invited to a Port and Policy debate ("the Oxford equivalent of setting the world to rights over a few beers") held by the Oxford University Conservative Association
, but despite a lively and at times provocative debate about David Cameron
's leadership - as well as large amounts of Port
- he finds himself just as unconvinced by the Oxford Conservatives as in his student days.
Traveling onwards, Daniel goes litter
picking with the "gung-ho teenage Tories
of the Wirral
" and is impressed by their altruism
, lack of cynicism
and sense of civic responsibility even if the group's leader has nicknamed her car Maggie
. Back in South London
, Daniel is invited to a dinner party hosted by the chair of the local Conservative Future
branch, Claire Hilley. Over dinner, a heated argument breaks out over the legacy of Thatcher
between the ardent believers in her policies and those more in tune with David Cameron
's compassionate Conservatism
, leaving Daniel to ponder whether this schism in the party
will manifest itself in a Conservative government.
The next day Daniel goes leafleting with the national Chair of Conservative Future
- and subsequent 'Tatler
Tory' election candidate for Tooting
, South London - Mark Clarke. Coming from a similarly deprived background
, Daniel hopes Mark's rationale for being a Conservative will help him make up his mind; a hope which is somewhat dashed when Mark makes an off-the-cuff disparaging remark about the "local people
" on the council estate they are canvassing. Realising how much his background has formed his political views - and remembering the hostility shown to a Tory election candidate who came to speak at his school in 1997 - Daniel suggests Mark does a talk about Conservatism as the comprehensive
he attended, Thomas Tallis School
. Mark faces some robust questioning from the students, but to Daniel's surprise some of them say they would consider voting Conservative in the general election.
Confused, not only by the different varieties of conservative beliefs, but also by his own mixed feelings over going against the grain of his upbringing, Daniel decides the best way to decide once and for all is to speak to David Cameron
. Explaining that Thatcher was a 'hate figure
' where he grew up, Daniel asks Cameron how the Conservatives have gone from denying the concept of society to embracing it and whether this is a genuine change or a cosmetic one. Cameron replies by saying that "the 1980s
was all about solving the problem of Britain's broken economy
now it is actually a message much more about...the broken society
. Leaving Portcullis House
, Daniel concludes that while it would be a "big leap of faith
" to ask the Conservatives to pick up the broken pieces of society, the Conservatives he's met have at least removed some of his negative preconceptions about the Tories.
, the programme went on to achieve wider awareness when, in 2008, the British Film Institute
screened the film theatrically as part of a "Director's Showcase" in their February 2008 programme. Later that year, growing recognition of the film led its director and author to win a "Hot Shot" award by the trade paper Broadcast in their annual round-up of the best up and coming talent under 30.
In 2010, Make Me a Tory was selected for preservation by the British Film Institute
's National Archive
as well as being programmed as a permanent exhibit in the BFI's Médiathèques in London
, Cambridge
, Derby
, Wrexham
and Newcastle
as part of the Ballot Box collection of notable films on politics. It was also selected for the National Media Museum's permanent TV Heaven exhibition and clips of the programme were used in Channel 4's Alternative Election Night 2010 coverage.
"Director Daniel Cormack is a likeable presence as he goes front of camera in this political documentary. A disillusioned Labour supporter, Cormack goes in search of the Tory youth of today to see if his vote can be swayed. From the big teeth ya-ya brigade of Oxford Uni conservative club to interviewing the big, blue man himself - David Cameron - Cormack ends up unfortunately still floating, but it is a worthwhile and interesting piece about the future Conservatism."
British Islands
British Islands is a term within the law of the United Kingdom which since 1889 has referred collectively to the following four states:*the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ;...
authored documentary
Authored documentary
An authored documentary is a television documentary series that presents the subjective view of its author on the topic of the documentary. The format, expanding upon the presenter/author's thesis over a number of episodes was popularised with Kenneth Clark's landmark BBC 2 series Civilisation.The...
film directed by Daniel Cormack for Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
.
Synopsis
The film opens with Daniel Cormack returning to the area of South LondonSouth London
South London is the southern part of London, England, United Kingdom.According to the 2011 official Boundary Commission for England definition, South London includes the London boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Croydon, Greenwich, Kingston, Lambeth, Lewisham, Merton, Southwark, Sutton and...
in which he grew up and reflecting on how the influence of that predominantly left-wing
Left-wing politics
In politics, Left, left-wing and leftist generally refer to support for social change to create a more egalitarian society...
environment formed his political views. In spite of being born in 1979
United Kingdom general election, 1979
The United Kingdom general election of 1979 was held on 3 May 1979 to elect 635 members to the British House of Commons. The Conservative Party, led by Margaret Thatcher ousted the incumbent Labour government of James Callaghan with a parliamentary majority of 43 seats...
as one of "Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990...
's children", the "thought of nailing his colours to the Tory
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
mast" seems "nothing short of horrific". Nonetheless, since casting his first vote at the age of 18 in the Labour landslide of 1997 he has become increasingly disillusioned with the Labour government and wonders if he can "do the unthinkable and turn Tory".
Setting off on a journey around the country to meet Conservatives, he starts by revisiting his alma mater
Alma mater
Alma mater , pronounced ), was used in ancient Rome as a title for various mother goddesses, especially Ceres or Cybele, and in Christianity for the Virgin Mary.-General term:...
, Oxford University where he "first met people who were actually Conservatives". He is invited to a Port and Policy debate ("the Oxford equivalent of setting the world to rights over a few beers") held by the Oxford University Conservative Association
Oxford University Conservative Association
The Oxford University Conservative Association, or OUCA is a student political organisation founded in 1924 whose members are drawn from the University of Oxford...
, but despite a lively and at times provocative debate about David Cameron
David Cameron
David William Donald Cameron is the current Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service and Leader of the Conservative Party. Cameron represents Witney as its Member of Parliament ....
's leadership - as well as large amounts of Port
Port wine
Port wine is a Portuguese fortified wine produced exclusively in the Douro Valley in the northern provinces of Portugal. It is typically a sweet, red wine, often served as a dessert wine, and comes in dry, semi-dry, and white varieties...
- he finds himself just as unconvinced by the Oxford Conservatives as in his student days.
Traveling onwards, Daniel goes litter
Litter
Litter consists of waste products such as containers, papers, wrappers or faeces which have been disposed of without consent. Litter can also be used as a verb...
picking with the "gung-ho teenage Tories
Conservative Future
Conservative Future, abbreviated to CF, is the youth movement of the Conservative Party in the United Kingdom for members aged up to 30 years old.Founded in 1998, Conservative Future is the largest political organisation on British campuses...
of the Wirral
Wirral
Wirral may refer to:* Wirral Peninsula, a peninsula in the northwest of England, between the rivers Dee and Mersey* Metropolitan Borough of Wirral in Merseyside, occupying the northern part of the Wirral Peninsula...
" and is impressed by their altruism
Altruism
Altruism is a concern for the welfare of others. It is a traditional virtue in many cultures, and a core aspect of various religious traditions, though the concept of 'others' toward whom concern should be directed can vary among cultures and religions. Altruism is the opposite of...
, lack of cynicism
Cynicism
Cynicism , in its original form, refers to the beliefs of an ancient school of Greek philosophers known as the Cynics . Their philosophy was that the purpose of life was to live a life of Virtue in agreement with Nature. This meant rejecting all conventional desires for wealth, power, health, and...
and sense of civic responsibility even if the group's leader has nicknamed her car Maggie
Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990...
. Back in South London
South London
South London is the southern part of London, England, United Kingdom.According to the 2011 official Boundary Commission for England definition, South London includes the London boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Croydon, Greenwich, Kingston, Lambeth, Lewisham, Merton, Southwark, Sutton and...
, Daniel is invited to a dinner party hosted by the chair of the local Conservative Future
Conservative Future
Conservative Future, abbreviated to CF, is the youth movement of the Conservative Party in the United Kingdom for members aged up to 30 years old.Founded in 1998, Conservative Future is the largest political organisation on British campuses...
branch, Claire Hilley. Over dinner, a heated argument breaks out over the legacy of Thatcher
Thatcherism
Thatcherism describes the conviction politics, economic and social policy, and political style of the British Conservative politician Margaret Thatcher, who was leader of her party from 1975 to 1990...
between the ardent believers in her policies and those more in tune with David Cameron
David Cameron
David William Donald Cameron is the current Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service and Leader of the Conservative Party. Cameron represents Witney as its Member of Parliament ....
's compassionate Conservatism
Compassionate conservatism
Compassionate Conservatism is a political philosophy that stresses using traditionally conservative techniques and concepts in order to improve the general welfare of society. The term itself is often credited to U.S. historian and politician Doug Wead who used it as the title of a speech in 1979....
, leaving Daniel to ponder whether this schism in the party
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
will manifest itself in a Conservative government.
The next day Daniel goes leafleting with the national Chair of Conservative Future
Conservative Future
Conservative Future, abbreviated to CF, is the youth movement of the Conservative Party in the United Kingdom for members aged up to 30 years old.Founded in 1998, Conservative Future is the largest political organisation on British campuses...
- and subsequent 'Tatler
Tatler
Tatler has been the name of several British journals and magazines, each of which has viewed itself as the successor of the original literary and society journal founded by Richard Steele in 1709. The current incarnation, founded in 1901, is a glossy magazine published by Condé Nast Publications...
Tory' election candidate for Tooting
Tooting (UK Parliament constituency)
-Elections in the 2000s:-Elections in the 1990s:- See also :* List of Parliamentary constituencies in Greater London* London Borough of Wandsworth-External links:****...
, South London - Mark Clarke. Coming from a similarly deprived background
Poverty
Poverty is the lack of a certain amount of material possessions or money. Absolute poverty or destitution is inability to afford basic human needs, which commonly includes clean and fresh water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing and shelter. About 1.7 billion people are estimated to live...
, Daniel hopes Mark's rationale for being a Conservative will help him make up his mind; a hope which is somewhat dashed when Mark makes an off-the-cuff disparaging remark about the "local people
Local community
A local community is a group of interacting people sharing an environment. In human communities, intent, belief, resources, preferences, needs, risks, and a number of other conditions may be present and common, affecting the identity of the participants and their degree of cohesiveness.- Overview...
" on the council estate they are canvassing. Realising how much his background has formed his political views - and remembering the hostility shown to a Tory election candidate who came to speak at his school in 1997 - Daniel suggests Mark does a talk about Conservatism as the comprehensive
Comprehensive school
A comprehensive school is a state school that does not select its intake on the basis of academic achievement or aptitude. This is in contrast to the selective school system, where admission is restricted on the basis of a selection criteria. The term is commonly used in relation to the United...
he attended, Thomas Tallis School
Thomas Tallis School
Thomas Tallis School is a large mixed comprehensive school for pupils aged 11-19, located in Kidbrooke in the Borough of Greenwich, London, United Kingdom. The school is a specialist Arts College, Leading Edge School and national School of Creativity....
. Mark faces some robust questioning from the students, but to Daniel's surprise some of them say they would consider voting Conservative in the general election.
Confused, not only by the different varieties of conservative beliefs, but also by his own mixed feelings over going against the grain of his upbringing, Daniel decides the best way to decide once and for all is to speak to David Cameron
David Cameron
David William Donald Cameron is the current Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service and Leader of the Conservative Party. Cameron represents Witney as its Member of Parliament ....
. Explaining that Thatcher was a 'hate figure
Hate figure
A hate figure is a person, normally in the public eye, who is widely disliked. The public's hatred for that person may be because of horrific acts but also sometimes may be unexplained ....
' where he grew up, Daniel asks Cameron how the Conservatives have gone from denying the concept of society to embracing it and whether this is a genuine change or a cosmetic one. Cameron replies by saying that "the 1980s
1980s
File:1980s decade montage.png|thumb|400px|From left, clockwise: The first Space Shuttle, Columbia, lifted off in 1981; American President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev eased tensions between the two superpowers, leading to the end of the Cold War; The Fall of the Berlin Wall in...
was all about solving the problem of Britain's broken economy
Early 1980s recession
The early 1980s recession describes the severe global economic recession affecting much of the developed world in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The United States and Japan exited recession relatively early, but high unemployment would continue to affect other OECD nations through at least 1985...
now it is actually a message much more about...the broken society
Social cohesion
Social cohesion is a term used in social policy, sociology and political science to describe the bonds or "glue" that bring people together in society, particularly in the context of cultural diversity. Social cohesion is a multi-faceted notion covering many different kinds of social phenomena...
. Leaving Portcullis House
Portcullis House
Portcullis House is an office building in Westminster, London, UK, that was commissioned in 1992 and opened in 2001 to provide offices for 213 Members of Parliament and their staff, augmenting limited space in the Palace of Westminster and surroundings....
, Daniel concludes that while it would be a "big leap of faith
Leap of faith
A leap of faith, in its most commonly used meaning, is the act of believing in or accepting something intangible or unprovable, or without empirical evidence...
" to ask the Conservatives to pick up the broken pieces of society, the Conservatives he's met have at least removed some of his negative preconceptions about the Tories.
Reception
Although originally scheduled in an off-peak slot in a series of works by new directors on Channel 4Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
, the programme went on to achieve wider awareness when, in 2008, the British Film Institute
British Film Institute
The British Film Institute is a charitable organisation established by Royal Charter to:-Cinemas:The BFI runs the BFI Southbank and IMAX theatre, both located on the south bank of the River Thames in London...
screened the film theatrically as part of a "Director's Showcase" in their February 2008 programme. Later that year, growing recognition of the film led its director and author to win a "Hot Shot" award by the trade paper Broadcast in their annual round-up of the best up and coming talent under 30.
In 2010, Make Me a Tory was selected for preservation by the British Film Institute
British Film Institute
The British Film Institute is a charitable organisation established by Royal Charter to:-Cinemas:The BFI runs the BFI Southbank and IMAX theatre, both located on the south bank of the River Thames in London...
's National Archive
BFI National Archive
The BFI National Archive is a department of the British Film Institute, and one of the largest film archives in the world. It was originally set up as the National Film Library in 1935; its first curator was Ernest Lindgren. In 1955 its name became the National Film Archive, and in 1992, the...
as well as being programmed as a permanent exhibit in the BFI's Médiathèques in London
BFI Southbank
BFI Southbank is the leading repertory cinema in the UK specialising in seasons of classic, independent and non-English language films and is operated by the British Film Institute.-History:...
, Cambridge
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
, Derby
Derby
Derby , is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands region of England. It lies upon the banks of the River Derwent and is located in the south of the ceremonial county of Derbyshire. In the 2001 census, the population of the city was 233,700, whilst that of the Derby Urban Area was 229,407...
, Wrexham
Wrexham
Wrexham is a town in Wales. It is the administrative centre of the wider Wrexham County Borough, and the largest town in North Wales, located in the east of the region. It is situated between the Welsh mountains and the lower Dee Valley close to the border with Cheshire, England...
and Newcastle
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
as part of the Ballot Box collection of notable films on politics. It was also selected for the National Media Museum's permanent TV Heaven exhibition and clips of the programme were used in Channel 4's Alternative Election Night 2010 coverage.
Critical reviews and reactions
Time Out London reviewed the BFI's theatrical screening:"Director Daniel Cormack is a likeable presence as he goes front of camera in this political documentary. A disillusioned Labour supporter, Cormack goes in search of the Tory youth of today to see if his vote can be swayed. From the big teeth ya-ya brigade of Oxford Uni conservative club to interviewing the big, blue man himself - David Cameron - Cormack ends up unfortunately still floating, but it is a worthwhile and interesting piece about the future Conservatism."