To ask what 'conservatism' is?

[chariotspades]

I've heard so many rival definitions. AIBU to wonder what the essence of conservatism is?

Resistance to change.

There's a bit more to it than that, fundamentally it's this:

"Conservatism
In its broadest sense, conservatism is a political philosophy that emphasises traditional values and institutions, one in which political decisions based on abstract notions of idealism are rejected in favour of gradual change based on pragmatism and historical experience.

Conservatism came about largely as a reaction to radical political change – specifically, the changes that came about as a result of the French Revolution and English Revolution in Europe."

www.studysmarter.co.uk/explanations/politics/political-ideology/conservatism/

The British Conservative Party is a broad church, on the left, more traditional on the right more Neo-Liberal, that's the Thatcherite wing.

Interesting thank you