Tory scum is a phrase used to describe members of the United Kingdom's Conservative Party ("Tory" is a colloquial name for the Conservatives) by its opponents. Journalist Michael White called the phrase a regularly used "ancient British roar";

David Graeber David Rolfe Graeber (; February 12, 1961 – September 2, 2020) was an American and British anthropologist, Left-wing politics, left-wing and anarchism, anarchist social and political activist. His influential work in Social anthropology, social ...

, a "familiar slogan"; and

Fintan O'Toole Fintan O'Toole (born 16 February 1958) is an Irish journalist, literary editor, and drama critic for ''The Irish Times'', for which he has written since 1988. He was drama critic for the ''New York Daily News'' from 1997 to 2001 and is Advisin ...

joked that in some parts of England the phrase was thought to be the actual name of the Conservative Party. In November 2023 the High Court in England ruled that it was "reasonable" for two protesters to have called

Iain Duncan Smith Sir George Iain Duncan Smith (born 9 April 1954), often referred to by his initials IDS, is a British politician who was Leader of the Conservative Party (UK), Leader of the Conservative Party and Leader of the Opposition (United Kingdom), Le ...

“Tory scum” at the 2021 Tory Party Conference. The protestors had been acquitted the year before of using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour with intent, and the High Court found that "the use of Tory scum was to highlight the policies" of Mr Duncan Smith, contributing to the "reasonableness of the conduct".

Use in the United States

Since at least the time of the

American War of Independence The American Revolutionary War (April 19, 1775 – September 3, 1783), also known as the Revolutionary War or American War of Independence, was the armed conflict that comprised the final eight years of the broader American Revolution, in which Am ...

from

Britain Britain most often refers to: * Great Britain, a large island comprising the countries of England, Scotland and Wales * The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, a sovereign state in Europe comprising Great Britain and the north-eas ...

Americans Americans are the Citizenship of the United States, citizens and United States nationality law, nationals of the United States, United States of America.; ; Law of the United States, U.S. federal law does not equate nationality with Race (hu ...

referred to those loyal to the British crown – known as

Loyalists Loyalism, in the United Kingdom, its overseas territories and its former colonies, refers to the allegiance to the British crown or the United Kingdom. In North America, the most common usage of the term refers to loyalty to the British Cr ...

or Tories — as "Tory scum". After the revolutionary war, the phrase could also be directed at Americans considered disloyal to the United States.

Gallery

Michael Gove, Tory scum - sticker - Nelson Street, Bristol.jpg,

Sticker A sticker is a type of label: a piece of printed paper, plastic, vinyl, or other material with temporary or permanent pressure sensitive adhesive on one side. It can be used for decoration or for functional purposes, depending on the situation. ...

of Conservative politician

Michael Gove Michael Andrew Gove, Baron Gove (; born Graeme Andrew Logan, 26 August 1967) is a British politician and journalist who served in various Cabinet of the United Kingdom, Cabinet positions under David Cameron, Theresa May, Boris Johnson and Rish ...

with "Tory scum" written on his forehead Boadicea and Her Daughters and Tory scum placard - London.jpg, "Tory scum" protest placard in a march as it passes the statue of ''

Boadicea and Her Daughters ''Boadicea and Her Daughters'' is a bronze sculpture, bronze sculptural group in London representing Boudica, queen of the Celts, Celtic Iceni tribe, who led an uprising in Roman Britain. It is located to the north side of the western end of West ...

'' in London Tory scum graffitied over a Conservative Party Conference road sign.jpg, "Tory scum" graffitied over a road sign about the Conservative Party Conference Tory Scum.jpg, "Tory scum" graffitied on a wall of 30 Millbank (then home to

Conservative Campaign Headquarters The Conservative Campaign Headquarters (CCHQ), formerly known as Conservative Central Office (CCO), is the headquarters of the British Conservative Party, housing its central staff and committee members, including campaign coordinators and man ...

) during the 2010 student protests in London Tory scum out of Brum sticker.jpg, Sticker, stuck to a lamp post in Birmingham, displaying the words "Tory scum out of Brum"

References

{{reflist British political phrases English phrases Political pejoratives Toryism

Use in the United States

Gallery

See also

References