Common Sense Group Explained
Common Sense Group should not be confused with Common sense.
| Common Sense Group |
| Formation: | 2020 |
| Leader Title: | President |
| Leader Name: | Edward Leigh |
| Leader Title2: | Chairman |
| Leader Name2: | John Hayes |
| Leader Title3: | Vice Chairman |
| Leader Name3: | Tom Hunt |
| Parent Organisation: | Conservative Party |
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
Members of the group include:[4] [6]
Members of Parliament:
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
Notes and References
- News: Walker . Peter . 2023-12-28 . Heavy election defeat could lead to Tory lurch to right, analysis shows . en-GB . . 2023-12-28 . 0261-3077.
- News: Bland . Archie . Elgot . Jessica . 11 November 2020 . Dissatisfied Tory MPs flock to ERG-inspired pressure groups . 19 May 2022 . The Guardian.
- Book: Conference 2021: What's on? - Monday 4th October, Fringe Events - 8:30pm the Common Sense Group & Blue Collar Conservatives . 88 . 2021 . 21 May 2022.
- News: Will the police break up Armistice Day ceremonies on Wednesday? . 9 November 2020 . . en . 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
- News: Steerpike . 12 May 2021 . Tories unveil anti-woke manifesto . 19 May 2022 . The Spectator.
- Book: Hayes, John. John Hayes (British politician) . Common Sense: Conservative Thinking for a Post-Liberal Age (pdf) . Common Sense Group. May 2021. 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
- News: Bale . Tim . Opinion: The Tory 'war on woke' has a manifesto – and its targets are crushingly familiar . The Guardian . 25 May 2021 . 20 May 2022.
