Common Sense Group

Not to be confused with Common sense.
Common Sense Group
Formation2020
President
Edward Leigh
Chairman
John Hayes
Vice Chairman
Tom Hunt
Parent organisation
Conservative Party
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The Common Sense Group is an informal group of MPs in the British Conservative Party. The Guardian 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.

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

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At their peak in November 2020, the Common Sense Group included the following luminaries, 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. ^ a b "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. ^ a b 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.