One Nation Conservatives (caucus)
The One Nation Conservatives is a parliamentary caucus of Conservative Party Members of Parliament who identify as one-nation conservatives.
History
In 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.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 and the second by Matt Forde.
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On 3 September 2019, 21 Conservative MPs had the party whip withdrawn after voting in support of an emergency motion to enable the passage of the European Union Act 2019, also known as the "Benn Act". The One Nation caucus released a statement soon after, demanding that the whip be restored.
In October, a delegation of caucus members met the Prime Minister 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. 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 is made.
Declaration of Values
In May 2019, the caucus published a "Declaration of Values", covering a range of domestic, economic and foreign policy issues.Membership
It is estimated that the caucus consists of approximately 110 Conservative MPs. Although a full list of members has not been made public, individual MPs have been identified by the press. They include:MP | Constituency | Notes |
Bim Afolami | Hitchin and Harpenden | |
Guto Bebb | Aberconwy | Independent MP |
Richard Benyon | Newbury | Independent MP |
Steve Brine | Winchester | Independent MP |
James Brokenshire | Old Bexley and Sidcup | Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Communities Secretary Minister of State for Security |
Robert Buckland | South Swindon | Justice Secretary |
Alistair Burt | North East Bedfordshire | Independent MP |
Andy Carter | Warrington South | |
Greg Clark | Tunbridge Wells | Business Secretary Independent MP |
Kenneth Clarke | Rushcliffe | Paymaster General Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Secretary of State for Health Secretary of State for Education and Science Home Secretary Chancellor of the Exchequer Secretary of State for Justice and Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain Minister without portfolio Father of the House of Commons Independent MP |
Alberto Costa | South Leicestershire | |
Stephen Crabb | Preseli Pembrokeshire | Secretary of State for Wales Secretary of State for Work and Pensions |
Tobias Ellwood | Bournemouth East | |
Laura Farris | Newbury | |
Vicky Ford | Chelmsford | |
George Freeman | Mid Norfolk | |
Mark Garnier | Wyre Forest | |
David Gauke | South West Hertfordshire | Chief Secretary to the Treasury Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Justice Secretary Independent MP |
Damian Green | Ashford | Secretary of State for Work and Pensions First Secretary of State and Minister for the Cabinet Office One Nation Conservative Caucus Chair |
Justine Greening | Putney | Secretary of State for Transport Secretary of State for International Development Secretary of State for Education and Minister for Women and Equalities Independent MP |
Dominic Grieve | Beaconsfield | Attorney General for England and Wales Independent MP |
Sam Gyimah | East Surrey | Independent MP Liberal Democrat MP |
Robert Halfon | Harlow | Minister without portfolio |
Philip Hammond | Runnymede and Weybridge | Secretary of State for Transport Secretary of State for Defence Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Chancellor of the Exchequer Independent MP |
Stephen Hammond | Wimbledon | Independent MP |
Matt Hancock | West Suffolk | Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Secretary of State for Health and Social Care |
Richard Harrington | Watford | Independent MP |
Simon Hoare | North Dorset | |
Margot James | Stourbridge | Independent MP |
Gillian Keegan | Chichester | |
Sir Oliver Letwin | West Dorset | Minister of State for Government Policy Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Independent MP |
Anne Milton | Guildford | Independent MP |
Nicky Morgan | Loughborough | Minister for Women Secretary of State for Education One Nation Conservative Caucus Co-Chair Culture Secretary |
David Mundell | Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale | Scottish Secretary |
Sir Bob Neill | Bromley and Chislehurst | |
Caroline Nokes | Romsey and Southampton North | Minister of State for Immigration Independent MP |
Guy Opperman | Hexham | |
Claire Perry | Devizes | Energy Minister |
Victoria Prentis | Banbury | |
Amber Rudd | Hastings and Rye | Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change Home Secretary One Nation Conservative Caucus Co-Chair Work and Pensions Secretary Minister for Women and Equalities Independent MP |
Chloe Smith | Norwich North | |
Antoinette Sandbach | Eddisbury | Independent MP Liberal Democrat MP |
Sir Nicholas Soames | Mid Sussex | Independent MP |
Rory Stewart | Penrith and The Border | International Development Secretary Independent MP |
Tom Tugendhat | Tonbridge and Malling | |
Ed Vaizey | Wantage | Independent MP |