Call us Conservatives, demand Tories
Conservative Party strategists today urged television chiefs not to constantly call them “Tories”.
The party’s head of broadcasting e-mailed TV stations asking if they could call them Conservatives rather than Tories.
Michael Salter fears voters could be confused if the party’s official name is not used.
In the e-mail, leaked to London’s Evening Standard newspaper, Mr Salter said: “In the run-up to the election is there any way people could call us Conservatives rather than Tories?
“It will be Conservative candidates people are voting for and they will be Conservative policies rather than Tory.
“I know that both terms will always be used but it would be nice if in reports people could remember to call us Conservative(s) at least once!”
Mr Salter insisted the party was not ashamed of the term and just wanted to avoid confusing voters.
He said: “We have done this numerous times before. We don’t mind people using the term 'Tory'.
"And we know the words will be used interchangeably. But we would like the first reference to be ‘Conservative’.
“We are not assuming voters are so stupid that they will see them as two different parties. But this would remove any sense of confusion.”
The Conservative Party grew out of the Tory Party of the late 18th century.
The name Tory dates back to the 17th century and comes from an Irish word “toraidhe” meaning outlaw or robber.
