|The Open Door Web Site| Whigs and Tories Gradually there
emerged a group of MP's and Lords who wanted Parliament to be
stronger than the king. They hated and feared Catholics and
sympathised with Puritan Non-conformists. They began to call
themselves the Country Party (opposed to the Court Party). Their
enemies nicknamed them "Whigs" after some Scottish Puritan
outlaws. The other political group, the Court Party, were for
the king and believed in Divine Rights. They were also in favour
of the Church of England with all its ceremonies and bishops.
They hated Non conformists. The Whigs suspected that they were
pro-Catholic and nicknamed them after Irish Catholic outlaws :
the "Tories". The Whigs and Tories were the world's first
political parties and over the years to come they were to share
government and opposition in a dual party system. The Whigs
became the Liberal Party in the 19th century and the Tories
became the Conservative Party. Both still exist today, although
the Liberal Party is now called the So