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Primrose League

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The Primrose League was an organisation for spreading Conservative principles in Great Britain . It was founded in 1883.

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49-567: At a late point in its existence, its declared aims (published in the Primrose League Gazette , vol. 83, no. 2, March/April 1979) were: The primrose was known as the "favourite flower" of Benjamin Disraeli , and so became associated with him. Queen Victoria sent a wreath of primroses to his funeral on 26 April 1881 with the handwritten message: "His favourite flowers: from Osborne: a tribute of affectionate regard from Queen Victoria". On

98-682: A Labour Representation Committee which effectively formed the basis for today's Labour Party , which still has extensive links with the Trade Union Movement in Britain. As factories closed, membership declined steeply in the 1980s and 1990s, falling from 13 million in 1979 to around 7.3 million in 2000. In September 2012 union membership dropped below 6 million for the first time since the 1940s. Union membership has since begun rising gradually again, reaching 6.44 million in 2019. Much like corporations , trade unions were regarded as criminal until

147-616: A charge in heraldry , for example the coat of arms of the Earl of Rosebery . Italy chose a fuchsia primrose as the symbol of its 2020 COVID-19 vaccination campaign. The primrose is on one side of Austria's 5 euro cent coin . Primrose Yellow exists in some paint and color systems and is named after this flower. The primrose occurs frequently in Romantic poetry , and has been celebrated, among others, by poets such as Keats , Wordsworth , Wilde , Goldsmith and Chaucer . In common parlance,

196-432: A Conservative member for that city. These founding members assisted in remodelling the original statutes, first drawn up by Wolff. Wolff had for some years perceived the influence exercised in benefit societies by badges and titular appellations, and he endeavoured to devise some quaint phraseology that would be attractive to the working classes . The title of "Knight Harbinger" was taken from an office no longer existing in

245-592: A great deal of power. The principle that the common law enforced a union's own rules, and that unions were free to arrange their affairs, is reflected in the ILO Freedom of Association Convention and in Article 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights , subject to the requirement that regulations " necessary in a democratic society " may be imposed. Unions must have an executive body and that executive must, under

294-446: A superior ovary which later forms a capsule opening by valves to release the small black seeds. The flowers are hermaphrodite but heterostylous ; individual plants bear either pin flowers ( longuistylous flower: with the capita of the style prominent) or thrum flowers ( brevistylous flower: with the stamens prominent). Fertilisation can only take place between pin and thrum flowers. Pin-to-pin and thrum-to-thrum pollination

343-595: Is common on motorway verges and railway embankments where human intervention is restricted. To prevent excessive damage to the species, picking of primroses or the removal of primrose plants from the wild is illegal in many countries, e.g. the UK Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 . Most (90%) individuals are heterostylous, the minority monostylous. The flowers of the species are visited by a variety of insects, such as butterflies ( Lepidoptera ), Hymenoptera , beetles ( Coleoptera ) and Diptera . Which visitors pollinate plants

392-437: Is found mainly by streams, under bushes, in orchards and clear, moist deciduous forests. Occasionally it also appears in meadows. In Central Europe plants thrive best on nutrient-rich, but lime-poor, humus-rich, loose and often stony loam soils in winter-mild situations. In more populated areas it has sometimes suffered from over-collection and theft so that few natural displays of primroses in abundance can now be found. However it

441-501: Is gradually attenuated towards the base and unevenly toothed. The single stem, extremely short, is hidden in the centre of the leaf rosette . Blooming in early spring in the Northern Hemisphere (February–April), the delicately scented flowers are 2–4 cm in diameter, borne singly on short slender stems. They are typically pale yellow, though white or pink forms are often seen in nature. The flowers are actinomorphic with

490-865: Is increased by seed and division . The throat is usually coloured rich yellow. Primrose breeding of named coloured varieties became popular in the nineteenth and early twentieth century. Numerous cultivars have been selected for garden planting, often derived from subsp. sibthorpii or hybrids between the subspecies; these and other garden hybrids are available in a wide range of colours, including white, yellow and red, or brown and red in all gradations as well as dark red, pink, purple, dark brown and dark blue, and with an extended flowering season. The term Polyanthus , or Primula polyantha , refers to various tall-stemmed and multi-coloured strains of P. vulgaris × P. veris hybrids . Though perennial, they may be short-lived and are typically grown from seed or from young plants as biennials . The following have received

539-480: Is ineffective. Three subspecies are accepted by some sources: Plants of the World Online accepts only one subspecies in addition to the nominate subsp. vulgaris : The primrose is distinguished from other species of Primula by its pale yellow (in the nominate subspecies) flowers produced singly on long flower stalks which are covered in rather shaggy hairs. The flowers open flat rather than concave as in

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588-431: Is not fully established. However, good pollinators are said to be bumblebees and hairy flies of the genus Bombylius . However, the most common visitors to the flowers are small beetles of the genus Meligethes – often there are up to 12 or more pollen -covered individuals in a single flower. The beetles also fly from flower to flower and, at least theoretically, are well suited as pollinators. Primrose flowers, and

637-693: Is to pursue the goal of ever greater confidence, optimism, prosperity, security, pride and patriotism in the United Kingdom, preserve our democratic system and constitutional monarchy, the rights of our citizens, and the broad interests of the Nation against socialist attack. For us, now and henceforward, these must be the main purposes of political action and public life."   Lord Salisbury Sir Stafford Northcote Stanley Baldwin [1st Earl Baldwin] (1924–1938) Sir Kingsley Wood (1938–1943) Sir Winston Churchill (1944–1965) Alec Douglas-Home Lord Home of

686-613: The British Isles , Denmark , northern Germany , the Netherlands , Belgium and France to southern Portugal in the south and the tip of North Africa in Algeria . To the east, the range extends through the southern European peninsulas to the Crimea , Balkans , Syria , Turkey , and Armenia . In appropriate conditions, P. vulgaris can cover the ground in open woods and shaded hedgerows. It

735-525: The Combination Act 1825 , and were regarded as quasi-legal organisations, subjected to the restraint of trade doctrine, until the Trade Union Act 1871 . This Act abolished common-law restrictions, but took an abstentionist stance to unions' internal affairs. The Trade Disputes Act 1906 exempted trade-union funds from liability in action for damages for torts, and this freedom gave future union pickets

784-482: The Royal Horticultural Society 's Award of Garden Merit : Both flowers and leaves are edible, the flavour ranging between mild lettuce and more bitter salad greens. The leaves can be cooked in soup but preferably with other plants because they are sometimes a little strong. The leaves can also be used for tea, and the young flowers can be made into primrose wine. In the past the whole plant and especially

833-483: The Royal Household , and a regular gradation was instituted for the honorific titles and decorations assigned to members. This idea, though at first ridiculed, was greatly developed since the foundation of the order; and new distinctions and decorations were founded, also contributing to the attractions of the league. I declare on my honour and faith that I will devote my best ability to the maintenance of religion, of

882-730: The Tariff Reform League and the Budget Protest League . With the granting of universal suffrage after the First World War , the Conservative Party leadership decided that "A mass membership now seemed a necessary object if the Conservatives were to be on an equal footing with the mass battalions of the trade unions", and so with the scaling up of party membership, the need for ancillary support from organisations such as

931-524: The Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 sections 46 to 56, be elected at least every five years, directly in a secret, equal postal vote of union members. The structure of the unions was based in contract , and the rights of members depended on being able to show some proprietary interest to be specifically enforced . This meant that the express terms of the union rule book can, like any contract, be supplemented with implied terms by

980-650: The 1980s Margaret Thatcher 's Conservative governments weakened the powers of the unions by making it more difficult to strike legally. Most British unions are members of the TUC, the Trades Union Congress (founded in 1867), or where appropriate, the Scottish Trades Union Congress or the Irish Congress of Trade Unions , which are the country's principal national trade union centres . Trade unions in

1029-1456: The Hirsel, KT, (1966 – Dec 1983) The Lord Mowbray and Stourton (April 1975 – April 1979), (April 1981 – April 1984) The Lord O'Hagan , MEP , (April 1979 – April 1981) The Lord Murton of Lindisfarne , OBE, TD, JP, (April 1984 – Dec 1988) Sir John Langford-Holt , (1989 – present) Sir Graham Rowlandson, MBE , JP (1977 – June 1985) Mr. W.L.Grant (June 1985 – August 1988) Peter Bowring (Sept 1988 – present) Mrs Lucy Baldwin (1935) Geoffrey Johnson-Smith , MP (1977 – present) Mrs Evelyn King (in 1977 – June 1986) Judith, Lady Roberts (June 1985 – present) John Heydon Stokes , MP (1971 – June 1985) William Cash , MP (June 1985 – July 1988) Richard W.L. Smith (July 1988 – present) Richard W.L. Smith (from April 1987 – 2004) James McAuslane, Esquire (?-1911-?) Mrs Evelyn M. Hawley, CBE , OBE (1943–1988) Roger Boaden, MBE, (27 Sept 1988 – 2004) Col. Sir Leonard Ropner , Bt, MC,(1977) The Lord St. Helens , MC., (1977 – Dec 1980) The Lord Tweedsmuir , CBE Robert Cooke , MP (1977 – June 1987) Primula vulgaris Primula vulgaris ,

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1078-556: The Ladies Council). When the league had become a success, it was joined by Lord Salisbury and Sir Stafford Northcote, who were elected Grand Masters. Between its inauguration and 1910, its numbers gradually increased, as may be seen by the above table. Sir Winston Churchill, in his book on his father, Lord Randolph Churchill published in 1906, stated that the Primrose League had one million paid up members "determined to promote

1127-584: The League was still able to pack the Royal Albert Hall for its annual Grand Habitation. It continued its activities after the war, and celebrated its centenary in 1983 with its usual round of social and political events. The League's Gazette carried articles by leading politicians of the day, including even then-leader and future Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher (in September/October 1977), but following

1176-571: The League, but subsequently a separate Ladies Branch and Grand Council were formed. The founder of the Ladies Grand Council was Lady Borthwick (afterwards Lady Glenesk ), and the first meeting of the committee took place at her house in Piccadilly in March 1885. "The Primrose League was the first political organisation to give women the same status and responsibilities as men". The ladies who formed

1225-483: The Primrose League diminished, particularly as a conduit of female support who had now gained the vote and could be full members of the Conservative Party. Members were expected to actively support the league, and to keep up interest, a programme of social events was organised for the membership, "of which the Primrose summer fête, often held in the grounds of stately homes opened for the first time for this purpose, provided

1274-479: The UK outlet TalkTV to discuss the League with presenter Mike Graham. Bolton described the League's role as being to further the interests of the Nation, [Disraelian] One Nation and cultural conservatism . Bolton described the League as being independent of any political party and intending to exercise political influence through the weight of its members. The Primrose League website states: "True conservatism advocates

1323-573: The United Kingdom emerged in the early 19th century, but faced punitive laws that sharply limited their activities. They began political activity in the late 19th century and formed an alliance with the Liberal Party in the early 20th century. The grew rapidly 1900 to 1920, lost their legal disabilities, and were well established by the 1920s. Union members largely switched from Liberal to the new Labour Party . Its leader Ramsay MacDonald became prime minister in 1924 briefly, and then again in 1929. In

1372-516: The United Kingdom were first decriminalised under the recommendation of a Royal commission in 1867, which agreed that the establishment of the organisations was to the advantage of both employers and employees. Legalised in 1871, the Trade Union Movement sought to reform socio-economic conditions for working men in British industries, and the trade unions ' search for this led to the creation of

1421-435: The attraction of the League was due to its cross-class appeal: workers could enjoy the fêtes; the middle-classes could enjoy meeting the local nobs; while for upper-class women, the League offered an opportunity for political mobilisation, with the new bicycles providing means for them to reach a wide range of country villages. By the early 20th century, the League had lost some of its early impetus, but prior to World War II ,

1470-502: The case of Primula veris , the cowslip. A pink form is widely seen, growing amongst the much more common yellow forms; this may be a genetic variant rather than a garden escape. Occasional red forms are more likely to be naturalised from garden varieties. The scientific name Primula is a diminutive of the Latin primus , "prime", alluding to the fact that this flower is among the first to appear in spring. The vernacular name has

1519-618: The cause of Toryism". Membership of the League was said to be "well over a million by the early 1890s", and at that time enjoyed more support than the British trade union movement . 6,000 people were members of the League in Bolton in 1900, which was as large as the national membership of the Independent Labour Party during the same time. However, by 1912 the League's membership had fallen to just over 650,000 as other leagues emerged, such as

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1568-643: The common primrose , is a species of flowering plant in the family Primulaceae , native to Eurasia. The common name is primrose , or occasionally common primrose or English primrose to distinguish it from other Primula species referred to as primroses. Primula vulgaris is a perennial growing 10–30 centimetres (4–12 inches) tall, with a basal rosette of leaves which are more-or-less evergreen in favoured habitats. The leaves are 5–25 cm (2–10 in) long and 2–6 cm (1– 2 + 1 ⁄ 2  in) broad, often heavily wrinkled, with an irregularly crenate to dentate margin. The leaf blade

1617-472: The courts as strictly necessary to reflect the reasonable expectations of the parties, for instance, by implying the Electoral Reform Service 's guidance to say what happens in a tie break situation during an election when the union rules are silent. If there are irregular occurrences in the affairs of the union, for instance if negligence or mismanagement is not alleged and a majority could vote on

1666-784: The day of the unveiling of Disraeli's statue all Conservative members of the House of Commons were decorated with the primrose. A small group had for some time discussed the means for obtaining the support of the people for Conservative principles. Sir Henry Drummond Wolff said to Lord Randolph Churchill , "Let us found a primrose league". A meeting was held at the Carlton Club shortly afterwards, consisting of Churchill, Wolff, Sir John Gorst , Percy Mitford, Colonel Fred Burnaby and some others, to whom were subsequently added Satchell Hopkins, J. B. Stone, Rowlands and some Birmingham supporters of Burnaby, who also wished to return Lord Randolph Churchill as

1715-577: The draft Trade Union (Deduction of Union Subscriptions from Wages in the Public Sector) Regulations 2017 has been delayed until 2019. Margaret Thatcher 's Conservative government, first elected in 1979, saw trade unions as an obstacle to economic growth and passed legislation of the sort the Conservatives had mostly long avoided. Membership declined steeply in the 1980s and 1990s, falling from 13 million in 1979 to around 7.3 million in 2000. In 2012, union membership dropped below 6 million for

1764-577: The estates of the realm, and of the imperial ascendancy of the British Empire ; and that, consistently with my allegiance to the sovereign of these realms, I will promote with discretion and fidelity the above objects, being those of the Primrose League. The motto was Imperium et libertas ; the seal, three primroses; and the badge, a monogram containing the letters PL, surrounded by primroses. Many other badges and various articles of jewellery were designed later, with this flower as an emblem. A small office

1813-629: The executive members. So in Edwards v Halliwell a decision of the executive committee of the National Union of Vehicle Builders to increase membership fees, which were set in the constitution and required a ⅔ majority vote, was able to be restrained by a claim from individual members because this touched both a personal right under the constitution and flouted a special procedure. Members' subscriptions are often paid by DOCAS (Deduction of Contributions at Source) i.e. deduction from salary. Implementation of

1862-715: The first committee were: Lady Borthwick; the Dowager Duchess of Marlborough (first lady president); Lady Wimborne; Lady Randolph Churchill ; Lady Charles Beresford; the Dowager Marchioness of Waterford; Julia, Marchioness of Tweeddale; Julia, Countess of Jersey; Mrs (subsequently Lady) Hardman; Lady Dorothy Nevill ; the Honorable Lady Campbell (later Lady Blythswood); the Honorable Mrs Armitage; Mrs Bischoffsheim and Meresia Nevill (the first secretary of

1911-546: The first time since the 1940s. From 1980 to 1998, the proportion of employees who were union members fell from 52 per cent to 30 per cent. Union membership declined in parallel with the reduction in size of many traditional industries which had been highly unionised, such as steel, coal, printing, and the docks. In 2016, the Conservative government passed a new Trade Union Act , which proposes stricter ballot thresholds for industrial action, further restraints on picketing and

1960-486: The flowers of related members of the Primulaceae are often removed from their stalks and scattered on the ground by green finches apparently consuming the ovaries and nectaries. The seeds have an elaiosome and are spread by ants ( myrmecochory ). The wild primrose is a staple of cottage garden plantings, and is widely available as seeds or young plants. It grows best in moist but well-drained soil in light shade. It

2009-465: The furtherance of the United Kingdom and its interests, respect for our history, culture and customs, preservation of established institutions and traditional principles within a political democracy. We believe in policies designed to benefit the ordinary person as well as the Nation. We believe society should be allowed to evolve in an organic way, rather than being engineered, and that members of society have obligations towards each other.  Our purpose

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2058-509: The grand annual climax". There were, however, also day excursions and winter evening entertainments for league members, leading Flora Thompson to conclude that "It was no wonder the pretty little enamelled primrose badge, worn as a brooch or lapel ornament, was so much in evidence". At the events, the members would often be addressed by, and have the opportunity to meet members of the Parliamentary Conservative Party. Part of

2107-413: The issue to forgive them, then members have no individual rights to contest executive decision making. However, if a union's leadership acts ultra vires , beyond its powers set out in the union constitution, if the alleged wrongdoers are in control, if a special supra-majority procedure is flouted, or a member's personal right is broken, the members may bring a derivative claim in court to sue or restrain

2156-422: The league's leading lights. Its remaining funds have been donated to Tory coffers. 'On Monday, I presented Michael Howard and Liam Fox with a cheque for £70,000,' adds Lord Mowbray proudly." On 3 April 2023, The Primrose League Ltd was registered with Companies House and, on 12 July 2023, it was publicly resurrected in a Press Release. The next day Henry Bolton OBE , President of the Primrose League, appeared on

2205-547: The phrase "the primrose path" implies the thoughtless pursuit of pleasure, especially when it is seen to bring disastrous consequences. The original allusion is a reference in Shakespeare 's Hamlet to "the primrose path of dalliance". Trade unions in the United Kingdom Social democracy Socialism Communism Northern Ireland Scotland Wales Other Trade unions in

2254-479: The resignation of its industrious secretary of 45 years, Evelyn Hawley, C.B.E., at the end of 1988, it went into terminal decline. The Daily Telegraph reported on 16 December 2004: "[T]his week saw a significant event for any observers of political history: after 121 years, the Primrose League was finally wound up. The league's aim was to promote Toryism across the country. 'In recent years, our meetings have become smaller and smaller,' says Lord Mowbray , one of

2303-461: The root were considered to have analgesic , anti- spasmodic , diuretic and expectorant properties. It contains small amounts of saponins , and was given for colds. P. vulgaris foliage contains significant amounts of vitamin C. The primrose was Benjamin Disraeli 's favourite flower; Primrose Day and the Primrose League were given their names in honour of this. Primroses also appear as

2352-457: The same meaning: primrose derives from a late Latin form prima rosa , consisting of prima , "first" (feminine), and rosa , "rose". The Latin specific epithet vulgaris means "common", in the sense of "widespread". The native range of P. vulgaris encompasses western and southern Europe . In the north, the distribution area extends from central Norway near the Faroe Islands via

2401-462: Was first taken on a second floor in Essex Street, The Strand , but this had soon to be abandoned, as the dimensions of the League rapidly increased. The league had two types of members who paid different annual subscriptions: full members (knights and dames) who were usually charged half a crown , and associate members who paid a few pence. Ladies were generally included in the first organisation of

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