Common Sense Group

Last updated

Common Sense Group
Formation2020
President
 Edward Leigh
Chairman
 John Hayes
Vice Chairman
 Tom Hunt
Parent organisation
 Conservative Party

The Common Sense Group is an informal group of MPs in the British Conservative Party. TheGuardian described it as a hard-right group that was sympathetic to culture wars. [1] It was created in 2020, inspired by the European Research Group, a Eurosceptic Conservative faction. In 2021, it published a manifesto, Common Sense: Conservative Thinking for a Post-Liberal Age.

Contents

History

The Common Sense Group was created in mid-2020. By November, it included 59 MPs and seven members of the House of Lords. [2] Its president is Edward Leigh MP. [3]

Following an interim report on the connections between colonialism and properties now in the care of the National Trust, including links with historic slavery, members of the group signed a letter to The Telegraph in November 2020. The letter accused the National Trust of being "coloured by cultural Marxist dogma, colloquially known as the woke agenda". [4]

The group's manifesto, Common Sense: Conservative Thinking for a Post-Liberal Age, was published in May 2021. [5] John Hayes MP wrote in the Preface, "With opportunities provided by Brexit, the time for a refreshed national conversation on the defining issues of our time – nationhood, community, migration, the rule of law and public order – is now." [6] [7]

Members

At their peak in November 2020, the Common Sense Group included the following members, listed by the positions they held at the time: [4] [6]

Conservative MPs

Members of the House of Lords:

Others:

Lee Anderson was formerly a member of the group, prior to his defection to Reform UK.

See also

References

    1. ↑ Walker, Peter (28 December 2023). "Heavy election defeat could lead to Tory lurch to right, analysis shows". The Guardian . ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 28 December 2023.
    2. ↑ Bland, Archie; Elgot, Jessica (11 November 2020). "Dissatisfied Tory MPs flock to ERG-inspired pressure groups". The Guardian . Retrieved 19 May 2022.
    3. ↑ Conference 2021: What's on? - Monday 4th October, Fringe Events - 8:30pm the Common Sense Group & Blue Collar Conservatives (PDF). 2021. p. 88. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
    4. 1 2 "Will the police break up Armistice Day ceremonies on Wednesday?". The Telegraph . 9 November 2020. Retrieved 20 May 2022. Letter to the Editor signed by Lee Anderson • Gareth Bacon • Scott Benton • Bob Blackman • Ben Bradley • Brendan Clarke-Smith • Philip Davies • Nick Fletcher • Jonathan Gullis • Sally-Ann Hart • John Hayes • Tom Hunt • Edward Leigh • Andrew Lewer • Chris Loder • Marco Longhi • Craig Mackinlay • Karl McCartney • Pauline Latham • David Morris • Andrew Rosindell • James Sunderland • Martin Vickers • Giles Watling • William Wragg • Baroness Eaton • Lord Lilley
    5. ↑ Steerpike (12 May 2021). "Tories unveil anti-woke manifesto". The Spectator . Retrieved 19 May 2022.
    6. 1 2 Hayes, John (May 2021). Common Sense: Conservative Thinking for a Post-Liberal Age (pdf). Common Sense Group. Authors: Foreword: Michael Nazir-Ali • Preface: John Hayes • Essays: Gareth Bacon • James Sunderland • David Maddox • Edward Leigh • Sally-Ann Hart • Danny Kruger • Peter Lilley • Marco Longhi • Chris Loder • Tom Hunt • Andrew Lewer • Joy Morrissey • Nick Fletcher • Lord Horam of Grimsargh • Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts • Alexander Stafford • Robin Millar • Fiona Bruce • David Burrowes
    7. ↑ Bale, Tim (25 May 2021). "Opinion: The Tory 'war on woke' has a manifesto – and its targets are crushingly familiar". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
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