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Why are members of the Conservative Party (Britain) called Tories?
Question
#18346. Asked by Jojo. (Apr 16 02 5:27 PM)
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mibmob
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I always understood that it came from the gaelic for thief or bandit.
Brewer says:
To'ry.
This word, says Defoe, is the Irish toruigh, used in the reign of Queen Elizabeth to signify a band of Catholic outlaws who haunted the bogs of Ireland.
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mk2norwich
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The Tory party is the former name of the Conservatives, and though the name is no longer officially in use, Tory is still a recognised word in British right-wing politics.
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Brainy Blonde
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The word Tories was originally used to describe rural bandits in Ireland. In the
17th century it had become a term applied to monarchists in the House of Commons.
By the 18th century the Tories were politicians who favoured royal authority, the
established church and who sought to preserve the traditional political structure
and opposed parliamentary reform. After 1834 this political group in the House of
Commons preferred to use the term Conservative. See:
 http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/Ptories.htm
FYI, the Conservative Party in Canada and its members, are called Tories as well.
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