The Conservative Party is known as being a party of government, but its periods in opposition have been of crucial and sometimes greater importance. The Party makes radical changes to its attitudes, policies and organisation not during periods in office, but whilst recovering from the shock of defeat. The Conservative’s uncomfortable spells in opposition have seen leadership crises, bitter factional strife and intense debate over the party’s future direction - yet at the same time they have been the springboard for recovering power, and the foundation for the next spell of political dominance.