Red Tory

A Red Tory is a nickname given to members of Canada's Progressive Conservative Party who although nominally conservative, possess many views that would in fact put them on the left of the political spectrum.

In recent years "Red Tories" have often clashed with so-called "So-cons" or social conservatives within their own party, or Canada's other conservative party, the Canadian Alliance. One of the most important issues facing the newly created Conservative Party of Canada is what will happen with the Red Tories. Some such as Joe Clark and Flora MacDonald had strongly opposed the merger and will not support the new party. Red Tory Scott Brison defected to the Liberal party after the merger.

The term "red" does not have anything to do with Communism. In Canada, the left-wing Liberal Party is traditional identified by the colour red, and the Conservative Party with the colour blue.

A number of Tory leaders over the past century have often been considered Red Tories. These included Robert Stanfield and Joe Clark.

The Ontario Progressive Conservative Party was in power in that province for decades was often considered to be Red Tory, this was especially true under the leadership of Bill Davis from 1971 to 1985. This Red Tory tradition ended under Mike Harris, whose government many described as neoconservative. Throughout the Maritimes Red Tories are the dominant force in the PC movement. This tends to explain why Canadian provinces are often ruled at the provinical level by a party that may be "Conservative" yet at the same time elect "Liberal" members of parliament to Ottawa. Outsiders may not understand the large amount of ideological common ground shared by the two nominally different parties.