A Conservative pressure group has released a statement refusing to back Kemi Badenoch and Robert Jenrick, the final candidates left in the Conservative leadership contest.
The Tory Reform Group was established in 1975 to represent One Nation Conservatism. Its formation was led by MP Peter Walker, a former health minister in Edward Heath’s government.
The statement says that both Badenoch and Jenrick have “used rhetoric and focused on issues which are far away from the party at its best”, and claims that the group has found itself “consistently disappointed” by the lack of engagement both candidates have shown in their values.
What is One Nation Conservatism?
One nation conservatism is believed to represent those who sit on the left side of the Conservative Party.
The Tory Reform Group lists “being radically moderate, values-driven and focused on the future” as its key commitments. Famous One Nation Conservatives include former prime ministers David Cameron and Theresa May.
In 2019, One Nation Conservatives published a Declaration of Values, which included:
- Being patriotic and rejecting “narrow” nationalism
- Believing that everyone in the country – whoever and wherever they are from – has an equal right to a fair chance, and that bold reforms to welfare and vocational skills are central to tackling social injustice
- Believing that public services, properly funded by a growing economy, are fundamental to the wellbeing of the nation
- Believing that all citizens have a responsibility to act as stewards of our local and global environment
- Believing in free enterprise, business and the market economy
Who are the Tory Reform Group, and which MPs are members?
The Tory Reform Group is thought of as the home of One Nation Conservatism. “TRG advocates the benefits of a society founded on freedom, individual responsibility and community,” the group’s website states.
Former chancellor and home secretary Kenneth Clarke has sat as the group’s president since 1997. Other senior figures in the group include former first secretary of state Damian Green and former justice secretary Robert Buckland.
What happened after Brexit?
One Nation Conservatism was a key narrative in Boris Johnson’s 2019 general election win – with the former prime minister repeatedly promising to lead a “One Nation Conservative administration”. However, many contested that Johnson truly resembled the political ideology.
Scepticism grew after Johnson’s large part in the divisive campaign around Brexit, his facilitation of a harder Brexit and his past controversial comments as a journalist.
As the group moved closer and closer to the right after Brexit, its influence in the party has reduced.
