"National Conservative Musical Union badge" [NMLH.2025.23.8]

Catalogue Number
NMLH.2025.23.8

Object Name
badge

Title
'National Conservative Musical Union'

Place
UK

People
Conservative Party, National Conservative Musical Union

Events
Elections

Description
A brass badge with a harp etched on it. At the top of the badge is an oval blue enamel plaque with the text: 'National Conservative Musical Union'. There is a ring at the top of the badge for attaching it to things.

This badge was created by the National Conservative Musical Union, a union associated with the Conservative Party. The union was founded in 1927 by Lucy Baldwin, the wife of Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin who was then in office. The union operated until 1960, and their objectives were to promote the playing of British music and to make the works of British composers better known'.

Badges and music are both important ways for political parties and their supporters to communicate their beliefs and values to others. Badges as visible symbols of affiliation can help start conversations with friends or strangers which may encourage others to vote for the party, and music can form positive associations with the party and fans of the band or artists whose music is being used. In late 20th and 21st century politics, pop music is often used by political parties in the UK during election campaigns - the most well remembered being Tony Blair's Labour Party using the song Things Can Only Get Better during the 1997 General Election campaign.

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