The New Conservatives are a parliamentary group of predominantly red wall[2] Conservative MPs who aimed to shape the Conservative Party's policies ahead of the 2024 United Kingdom general election.[3] Politico described the group as having 25 members in July 2023.[4]
New Conservatives | |
|---|---|
 | |
| President | John Hayes |
| Chairpersons | Danny Kruger Miriam Cates |
| Founded | 21 May 2023 |
| Ideology | National conservatism Social conservatism[1] Euroscepticism |
| Political position | Right-wing[1] |
| National affiliation | Conservative Party |
| Colours | Blue |
| House of Commons (Conservative seats) | 3 / 121
|
| Website | |
| www | |
History
editThe group was created on Sunday, 21 May 2023,[3][5] and has no official leader, although the co-founders, the former Penistone and Stocksbridge MP Miriam Cates and the former Devizes MP Danny Kruger are the chairs behind the initiative.[3][6]
In October 2023, the group proposed banning "gender ideology" within state schools as one of their platforms.[7]
In November 2023, it was reported by Sky News that the group had met to discuss Suella Braverman potentially "making a play" for a Conservative party leadership.[8]
Policies
editThe group describes itself as wishing to return to the Conservative Party's 2019 manifesto.[9] Politico by cutting immigration to below 226,000, as well as focusing on law and order and to tackle perceived bias in education.[10]
10-point policy
editThe New Conservatives' primary goals are listed in their 10-point plan, which consists of the following:[11]
- Closing temporary schemes that grant work visa eligibility for care workers and senior care workers.
- Raising the minimum income required to gain a skilled work visa.
- Extending the closure of the student dependant route.
- Closing the graduate route to students.
- Reserving university Study Visas for the brightest international students.
- Monitoring the reduction in visa applications under the humanitarian schemes.
- Implementing the provisions of the Illegal Migration Bill rapidly.
- Capping the number of refugees legally accepted for resettlement in the UK.
- Raising the minimum combined income threshold for sponsoring a spouse and raising the minimum language requirement.
- Capping the amount of social housing that councils may assign to non-UK nationals.
Membership
editThe group was originally made up of 24 Conservative MPs elected primarily after the Brexit referendum,[3][12][13] however only three members have retained their seats.
| MP | Constituency | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Danny Kruger | East Wiltshire | Elected 2019 |
| Gareth Bacon | Orpington | Elected 2019 |
| John Hayes | South Holland and The Deepings | President of group,[14] elected 1997 |
Former members
edit| MP | Reason |
|---|---|
| Lee Anderson | Defected to Reform UK |
| Eddie Hughes | Stood down as MP |
| Lia Nici | Lost re-election |
| Robin Millar | Lost re-election |
| Marco Longhi | Lost re-election |
| Andrew Lewer | Lost re-election |
| Mark Jenkinson | Lost re-election |
| Anna Firth | Lost re-election |
| Chris Green | Lost re-election |
| Brendan Clarke-Smith | Lost re-election |
| James Daly | Lost re-election |
| Paul Bristow | Lost re-election |
| Duncan Baker | Lost re-election |
| Tom Hunt | Lost re-election |
| Sarah Atherton | Lost re-election |
| Nick Fletcher | Lost re-election |
| Alexander Stafford | Lost re-election |
| Jonathan Gullis | Lost re-election |
| Miriam Cates | Lost re-election |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b Sparrow, Andrew (11 March 2024). "Both Labour and group of Conservative MPs say Lee Anderson defection highlights Tory failings – as it happened". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
The New Conservatives, a group of rightwing, socially conservative MPs ...
- ^ Walker, Peter (3 July 2023). "New Conservatives' immigration policy raises questions over Sunak's authority". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
- ^ a b c d Langford, Eleanor (3 July 2023). "The 'New Conservatives' and their 12-point plan to pressure Rishi Sunak on migration, explained". inews.co.uk. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
- ^ "Meet the New Conservatives giving Rishi Sunak a migration headache". POLITICO. 3 July 2023. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
- ^ Langford, Eleanor (21 May 2023). "New Tory lobby group to pressure Sunak on migration ahead of expected record figures". inews.co.uk. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
- ^ "Who are the New Conservatives?". Yahoo News. 3 July 2023. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
- ^ "New Conservatives group demands migration curbs and school 'gender ideology' ban". Worcester News. 2 October 2023. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
- ^ "Reshuffle latest: Braverman sacking 'not over protests article - it was homelessness comments'". Sky News. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
- ^ "Tory MPs issue plan for Rishi Sunak to slash migration". BBC News. 3 July 2023. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
- ^ "Meet the New Conservatives giving Rishi Sunak a migration headache". POLITICO. 3 July 2023. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
- ^ "Politics UK". Twitter. 3 July 2023. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
- ^ "Meet the New Conservatives giving Rishi Sunak a migration headache". POLITICO. 3 July 2023. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
- ^ "Who are the Popular Conservatives - and how do they compare to other Tory movements?". Sky News. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
- ^ Cunliffe, Rachel (9 March 2024). "John Hayes: "Tory voters want full-fat Conservatism"". New Statesman. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
