This book explores the relationship between Conservative Party politics and British colonial policy in tropical Africa during the unbroken period of Conservative government from 1951 to 1964. Based particularly on recently released documentary evidence, much of it never before published, Philip Murphy's study traces the development of Conservative attitudes towards Britain's role as a colonial power and describes reactions within the party to the rapid British withdrawal from Africa following the 1959 General Election.

Making a clear distinction between the Conservative Party and the machinery of government over which conservative ministers presided, Dr Murphy examines how the party itself exercised a direct influence over the struggle for power between competing interest groups within the African colonies. He assesses the links between the conservatives and the so-called 'multi-racial' parties intended by Britain to play an important feature in political development in Africa and the ties between Conservative politicians and British businessmen active in the continent. Dr Murphy's analysis makes an important contribution to the debate on the process of decolonization, highlighting the variety of ways in which metropolitan party politics could influence the transfer of power.