Towards Christian Democracy? British Conservative women and the case of the European Union of Women, 1945-1955

In January 1949, the Conservative Party created an Overseas Bureau 'to make contact with equivalent parties in other British countries and with the nearest equivalents in foreign countries'. Under the chairmanship of the Duchess of Atholl, the British section of Nouvelles Équipes internationales (New International Teams — NEI) was formed as a unit of the European Movement, which aimed to establish a Christian Democratic Union. Although NEI was meant to cut across political parties, the Conservatives saw it as 'a platform for getting across the Conservative as well as the British point of view'.

In 1955, the British section of the European Union of Women was formed as 'an association of women members of the centre and right political parties in Europe.' Closer international understanding was key to peace in Europe and Conservative women were seen as essential in facing the challenge of the Cold War and constructing a Christian democracy. Lady Emmet hoped it would foster 'a brains trust type of programme'.

This paper will investigate Conservative women's engagement with Christian democracy and Christian Democrat internationals and the place of religion in British Conservatism. It will question gendered stereotypes of Conservative isolationism, paternalism and parochialism.