New Conservatives (UK)
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 |
| Website | |
| www | |
The New Conservatives was a parliamentary group of predominantly red wall[2] Conservative MPs created in May 2023, 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] All but three members lost their seats in the election, and the group has been inactive since the election.
History
The 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
The group described 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
The 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
| Parliament | Composition |
|---|---|
| 2024 (at dissolution) | 24 / 345
|
Prior to the general election, the group was made up of 24 Conservative MPs;[3][12][13] only three members retained their seats.
Unless otherwise mentioned, all members in this table were first elected to parliament in 2019 and defeated in their bid for reelection in 2024.
See also
References
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b c "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.
