Allan, the particular problem of the Tory party is that they are identified with the elites of Oxbridge and London City. Maggie Thatcher spent years learning an exaggerated "posh" accent, and only weeks learning economic theory.

Therefore, people who sing folk songs (particularly from the North) are typically reluctant to proclaim their emotional identification with the Tories. Still they may be conservative with a small c, in some of the meanings of the word.

In the USA, the image of conservatism is quite different, not predominantly white-collar and definitely not academic. (See also Mudcat threads about "Is Country Folk?".)