--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There was a time when a certain type of…" description: "\"There was a time when a certain type of Tory could have been relied on to swing from the chandeliers in defence of the rights of freeborn Britons. I su..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d62/emily-thornberry-6730_conservative_there-was-a-time-when-a-certain-type-of_361383.jpg" --- # There was a time when a certain type of Tory could have… ![“There was a time when a certain type of Tory could have been relied on to swing from the chandeliers in defence of the rights of freeborn Britons. I suppose a lot of those Tories would have been what you might call 'one-nation Tories.' That tradition has died in the Conservative party.” quote by Emily Thornberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d62/emily-thornberry-6730_conservative_there-was-a-time-when-a-certain-type-of_361383.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d62/emily-thornberry-6730_conservative_there-was-a-time-when-a-certain-type-of_361383.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d62/emily-thornberry-6730_conservative_there-was-a-time-when-a-certain-type-of_361383.jpg) > “There was a time when a certain type of Tory could have been relied on to swing from the chandeliers in defence of the rights of freeborn Britons. I suppose a lot of those Tories would have been what you might call 'one-nation Tories.' That tradition has died in the Conservative party.” [Emily Thornberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-thornberry/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Traditional one‑nation conservatism, once championed collective rights, has faded from modern party politics. **In simple terms:** Old Tory values are gone. Key Takeaway Revive inclusive, community‑focused policies. Themes politics tradition community Mood critical hopeful Type political reflective When to use this quote - policy debates - grassroots organizing - party reform - public discourse Key Concepts conservatism nationalism social contract Questions to Reflect On - Can contemporary conservatism reconcile with one‑nation principles? - What would a revived one‑nation approach look like today? A Different Perspective Modern parties may resist returning to older ideals. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Conservative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conservative/) [Conservative party](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conservative-party/) [Defence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defence/) [Nation Tories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nation-tories-3318621/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Tories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tories/) [Tories Nation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tories-nation-3318622/) [Tories Tradition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tories-tradition-3318620/) [Tory Relied](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tory-relied-3318623/) [Tradition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tradition/) ## Related quotes > [Conservatives claim they are 'one nation' Tories when they have actually been a government for the 1% who have undermined our economic interests through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcdonnell/conservatives-claim-they-are-one-nation-tories-when-they-have/) [John McDonnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcdonnell/) > [Conservative Party membership has almost halved since David Cameron become leader. 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Their stance on foxhunting makes it absolutely clear that they haven't. They know the public doesn't agree…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-benn/the-tories-claim-that-they-have-changed-their-stance-on-foxhunting/) [Hilary Benn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-benn/) > [I've instinctively hated the Tories since birth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-brooker/i-ve-instinctively-hated-the-tories-since-birth/) [Charlie Brooker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-brooker/) > [I wanted us to go to the Tories when we were strong...not in misfortune to be made an honest woman of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/i-wanted-us-to-go-to-the-tories-when-we-were-strong-not-in-misfortune/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [If the Tories and Lib Dems fought together, they'd keep their ministerial offices and limousines, and continue to do the right things for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-portillo/if-the-tories-and-lib-dems-fought-together-they-d-keep-their/) [Michael Portillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-portillo/) ## More by Emily Thornberry > [The notion of women being written out of history is as old as the Bible, but it always seems more galling when it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-thornberry/the-notion-of-women-being-written-out-of-history-is-as-old-as-the/) [Emily Thornberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-thornberry/) > [The Human Rights Act is not a terrorists' charter. 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If they don't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-thornberry/people-don-t-seem-to-be-safe-inside-pentonville-and-now-it-transpires/) [Emily Thornberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-thornberry/) > [White collar crime must be taken as seriously as any other crime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-thornberry/white-collar-crime-must-be-taken-as-seriously-as-any-other-crime/) [Emily Thornberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-thornberry/) > [The financial elite do not need special laws for themselves. This is one nation and there is one criminal law.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-thornberry/the-financial-elite-do-not-need-special-laws-for-themselves-this-is/) [Emily Thornberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-thornberry/) > [When one party is really unpopular, like the Conservatives in 1997, AV can really skew the result disproportionately against them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-thornberry/when-one-party-is-really-unpopular-like-the-conservatives-in-1997-av/) [Emily Thornberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-thornberry/) > [All the evidence shows that establishing the habit of voting as early as possible is a vital tool in making sure that it's maintained…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-thornberry/all-the-evidence-shows-that-establishing-the-habit-of-voting-as-early/) [Emily Thornberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-thornberry/) > [We need to build on our diplomatic networks, and the unrivalled expertise of our Foreign Office, to project a positive image for Britain as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-thornberry/we-need-to-build-on-our-diplomatic-networks-and-the-unrivalled/) [Emily Thornberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-thornberry/) > [Carving out our own role, distinct from America's, might not be easy. 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