The One Nation Conservatives is a UK parliamentary caucus of Conservative Party Members of Parliament who identify as one-nation conservatives.
One Nation Conservatives | |
|---|---|
| Chairman | Damian Green |
| Founded | 30 March 2019 |
| Ideology | One-nation conservatism |
| Political position | Centre-right |
| National affiliation | Conservative Party |
| Colours | Blue |
| House of Commons (Conservative seats) | 8 / 121
|
| Website | |
| https://one-nation-conservatives.com/ | |
History
editIn March 2019, the caucus was formed by a group of between 40 and 50 Conservative MPs. Nicky Morgan and Amber Rudd were announced as co-chairs of the caucus, and Damian Green and Nicholas Soames as board members. The One Nation group was reportedly set up in order to unite MPs around a candidate in the upcoming leadership election who would oppose withdrawing from the European Union without a deal.[1][2]
On 4 June 2019, the caucus hosted the first leadership election hustings, held across two nights. Both events featured 4 different candidates; the first was chaired by Katy Balls (deputy political editor of The Spectator) and the second by Matt Forde.[3][4]
Following Boris Johnson's election as party leader and appointment as Prime Minister, both co-chairs were given positions in his government. Morgan became the new Culture Secretary and Rudd carried on in her role as Work and Pensions Secretary. As a result, they both resigned the chairmanship and were succeeded by Damian Green.
On 3 September 2019, 21 Conservative MPs had the party whip withdrawn after voting in support of an emergency motion to enable the passage of the European Union (Withdrawal) (No. 2) Act 2019, also known as the "Benn Act".[5] The One Nation caucus released a statement soon after, demanding that the whip be restored.[6]
In October, a delegation of caucus members met the Prime Minister Boris Johnson in 10 Downing Street to discuss the party's position on a no-deal Brexit at the next general election. Following the meeting, Green announced that Johnson had 'looked him in the eye' and assured them that the next Conservative manifesto would not include a no-deal pledge.[7] It was reported that a number of Cabinet ministers and backbench MPs would be willing to resign in the event that such a manifesto commitment were made.[8][9]
Declaration of Values
editIn May 2019, the caucus published a "Declaration of Values", covering a range of domestic, economic and foreign policy issues.[10][11]
The United Kingdom: we believe in the United Kingdom as the embodiment of our shared values and as a force for good in defending our values in the world: we are patriotic Conservatives who reject narrow nationalism.
Active global leadership: we believe the UK must be a leader on the world stage through our aid, trade and security commitments to tackle global challenges as a global citizen, through a strong defence and soft power commitment.
Life Chances: we believe that everyone in our country – whoever and wherever they are from – has an equal right to a fair chance in life, and that bold reforms to welfare & vocational skills are central to tackling social injustice and creating an opportunity society.
Social Responsibility: we believe in a strong society, and a social contract between all of us as fellow citizens, supported in our tax and welfare system.
Public Services: we believe in our public services, properly funded by a growing economy, as fundamental to the wellbeing of our nation, in a mixed economy of public, private and third sector providers.
Localism: we believe in the importance of place and Conservatives supporting the local, civic and voluntary over the bureaucratic, statist and compulsory.
Environmental Stewardship: we believe that we all have a responsibility to act as stewards of our local and global environment, for the next generation, and as a duty to show global leadership on climate change and biodiversity.
Markets and values: we believe in free enterprise, business and the market economy with a framework of good regulation to enhance competition, support innovation, break monopolies, empower citizens and reflect our shared values.
Law and Human rights: we believe in universal human rights and the rule of law and are proud of our country and Party's record in promoting them through an independent judiciary, effective enforcement, community policing & policies to prevent crime & social breakdown.
Democratic renewal: we believe that civilised, open respectful political debate in our Party, Parliament & free press, and a vibrant arts & cultural sector, is fundamental to strengthening the health of our society and democracy.
Membership
editIt is estimated that the caucus consists of approximately 110 Conservative MPs as of February 2020.[12] Although a full list of members has not been made public, individual MPs have been identified by the press. They include:
Leadership
edit| Term start | Term end | Chair(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 30 March 2019 | 24 July 2019 | Nicky Morgan |
| Amber Rudd | ||
| 24 July 2019 | present | Damian Green MP |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d Michael Savage (30 March 2019). "'One Nation' Tories form group to counter pro-Brexit leadership candidates". The Observer.
- ^ a b c d Anahita Hossein-Pour (31 March 2019). "Tory MPs form new One Nation group in bid to block hardline Brexiteers in leadership race". PoliticsHome.
- ^ Katy Balls (5 June 2019). "Inside the One Nation Tory leadership hustings". The Spectator.
- ^ Chris Mason (4 June 2019). "Notes from the first Tory leadership hustings". BBC News.
- ^ Anna Mikhailova (4 September 2019). "Boris Johnson to strip 21 Tory MPs of the Tory whip in parliamentary bloodbath". The Daily Telegraph.
- ^ @OneNationCons (4 September 2019). """🚨 This evening we met as a Caucus and have collectively agreed that the events of the last few days has shown a purge is taking place of moderate colleagues in the Parliamentary Party. This cannot, and is not right! 🚨"" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ Rowena Mason; Kate Proctor (9 October 2019). "Johnson reassures Tory MPs no-deal Brexit pledge will not be election policy". The Guardian.
- ^ Steven Swinford (9 October 2019). "Boris Johnson rules out no-deal Brexit pledge in Tory manifesto". The Times.
- ^ Rob Merrick (9 October 2019). "Brexit: Tory MPs threaten mass walk-out if No 10 forces party to back no-deal at general election". The Independent. Archived from the original on 24 May 2022.
- ^ Nicky Morgan (20 May 2019). "Our country needs One Nation Toryism more than ever. And we will measure leadership candidates against its ideals". ConservativeHome.
- ^ @OneNationCons (2 July 2019). ""Last month we launched our set of values on what it means to be a #OneNationConservatives in the 21st Century: 🇬🇧Pro-Union 💥Fights injustices 🤝Champions community 🏛️Defends human rights 🌳Conserves our environment 💪Empowers opportunity 💷Unlocks free enterprise"" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ a b @vickyford (12 February 2020). "#onenationconservatives is the fastest growing part of the @Conservatives - now 110 MPs in the group. Thank you @DamianGreen @jogideon @JonesyFay@MrAndy_Carter for super speeches! & @ToryReformGroup for the 💙" (Tweet). Retrieved 2 April 2020 – via Twitter.
- ^ a b c d e George Freeman; Nicky Morgan; Bim Afolami; Chloe Smith; Nicholas Soames (18 May 2019). "One Nation conservatism can make a success of Brexit". The Observer.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Boris Johnson is reinventing one-nation Conservatism". The Economist. 2 January 2020. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
- ^ @RichardHRBenyon (20 May 2019). "So pleased and proud to be at a meeting of the One Nation Conservative Caucus. A moderate centre-ground pragmatic Conservatism that is about values that have never been more needed" (Tweet). Retrieved 2 April 2020 – via Twitter.
- ^ a b c Richard Vaughan (9 October 2019). "Tories risk being torn apart by Boris Johnson's no-deal Brexit manifesto as PM faces revolt from backbench MPs". i.
- ^ a b Jillian Ambrose (13 August 2020). "Moderate Tories join greens to call for fossil fuel car ban by 2030". The Guardian.
- ^ Alain Tolhurst (4 September 2019). "More than 100 Tory MPs urge Boris Johnson to reinstate the 21 no-deal rebels". PoliticsHome.
- ^ a b c d e f g @e_casalicchio (20 May 2019). "Tory MPs at this 'one nation Conservatives' group meeting include: @AmberRuddHR, @carolinenokes, @AlbertoCostaMP, @AlistairBurtUK, @TomTugendhat, @GeorgeFreemanMP, @NSoames, @NickyMorgan01, @DamianGreen, Margot James, @neill_bob, @VictoriaPrentis, Tobias Ellwood, @AnneMilton" (Tweet). Retrieved 2 April 2020 – via Twitter.
- ^ @MrAndy_Carter (30 January 2020). "What a load of utter twaddle - as someone inside the party, in Westminster and a member of the one nation group - the centre ground is firmly where this party sits. Just look at the select committee chairs elected by MPs yesterday - all one nation @Conservatives" (Tweet). Retrieved 2 April 2020 – via Twitter.
- ^ a b c @DamianGreen (27 January 2020). "Congratulations to all those elected unopposed to Select Committee Chairs. Particular congrats to One Nation Caucus members @carolinenokes @halfon4harlowMP and @SCrabbPembs" (Tweet). Retrieved 2 April 2020 – via Twitter.
- ^ @Laura__Farris (12 February 2020). "I joined the @OneNationCons caucus pretty much on Day 1, along with lots of others. Proud to be part of this thoughtful, supportive group of MPs" (Tweet). Retrieved 2 April 2020 – via Twitter.
- ^ "Ministerial appointments: February 2020". GOV.UK. Retrieved 15 February 2020.
- ^ @Mark4WyreForest (20 May 2019). "Delighted to have been at the launch of the #OneNationConservatives statement of values" (Tweet). Retrieved 2 April 2020 – via Twitter.
- ^ Balls, Katy (31 May 2019). "Stop Boris? These days it's Operation Stop Raab". The Spectator. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
- ^ Glynn, Asher (14 August 2019). "Asher Glynn: One-nation Conservatives should stay and fight for our Party". Conservative Home. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
- ^ Macguire, Patrick (28 July 2019). "Steve Baker promises Brexit scrutiny as Treasury select committee chair". New Statesman. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
- ^ Walker, Jonathan (21 May 2019). "Hexham MP Guy Opperman joins 'One Nation' group of Conservative MPs". Chronicle Live. Retrieved 2 April 2020.