‘Real Toryism’ or Christian democracy? The political thought of Douglas Jerrold and Charles Petrie at the New English Review, 1945–50*

This article uses the periodical press, memoirs and archival sources to examine the Conservative thought of Douglas Jerrold and Charles Petrie at the New English Review between 1945 and 1950. It seeks to argue that while there was more continuity than rupture in their political thought, they were able to make a transition from interwar authoritarianism and ‘fascism’ to postwar anti-communism and democracy. There were similarities between their political Catholicism and Christian democracy, but ultimately their ‘real Toryism’ and continued sympathy for Franco prevented them from fully aligning themselves with British and west European Christian democrats.