Ben Duckworth Investigates Who Belongs on the Right of the Party And

Questions of principle of opinion,” says a member of the government. Since then his judgement has not been trusted by “There are those broadly suspicious of the EU and many in the party. “I’ve still no idea what on earth then there are those who want to leave the EU.” he thought he was doing,” is a common refrain from Personality also plays its part. Prominent anti-EU his colleagues. Davis’ position is symptomatic of MPs Bill Cash and Douglas Carswell do not have a many of ‘old-guard’ of the Tory right. They have friendship. There is also a generational gap between definite qualities – Davis has the charisma and What the older eurosceptics such as Cash and Maas- presence, John Redwood the economic knowl- tricht rebel Richard Shepherd versus the younger, edge – but many resigned or were sacked and are equally well-known right-wingers such as Carswell. seen as having paid a price for their principles. There is also, on other issues, a rough split “The Tory right doesn’t have leaders. It has Below Iain Duncan between right-wingers who are libertarians and standard bearers. They’ve been sacked or not Smith, then leader of the Conservative Party, those who are authoritarian. As one well-known promoted. In some way they wear the scars meets with members ‘trouble-maker’ puts it: “I hate the sexual moralisa- that mean they’re tainted because they can’t of his shadow cabinet: is THE Michael Ancram, Theresa tion made by people in the Cornerstone Group.” get into a position of power,” says an MP. May, Bernard Jenkin For specific policies, criminal justice was a clear Graham Brady has become a key figure since and Michael Howard moment when the “wheat in the field” all blew the resigning from the Conservative frontbench over same way. The Ministry of Justice’s policies, which the grammar schools controversy in 2007. But, as recently brought a U-turn from David Cameron on Ken Clarke’s sentencing plans, have consist- ToRy ently been the sharpest divide between the Tory right and the government. The issue of votes for prisoners could also have seen the government defeated in the Commons if they had whipped it. The Whips Office’s inability to control the five minutes.” rebellions is an important factor in how the party The 1922 RigHT? behaves. The election of select committees meant executive is not Ben Duckworth investigates who belongs on the those positions were no longer available as soft made up solely The inability of the right of the party and whether it really poses landings for those looking to cause trouble. While of the ‘old guard’. Whips Office to control a threat to the current Conservative leadership David Cameron still trusts the chief whip Patrick It includes new the rebellions is an McLoughlin, who has the advantage of being intake members important factor in a working class Conservative MP, the party is Gavin Barwell, t’s like wheat blowing in a field. The the old ‘section 28’ in shadow cabinet when Theresa critical of him. One MP says: “The Whips Of- Tracey Crouch, how the party behaves. Tory right is an emotional thing,” says May, as shadow education secretary was still deter- fice is old-fashioned, with a ‘do as you’re told’ Charlie Elphicke, The election of select a Conservative MP finishing his lunch mined to keep it. I have always been in favour of uni- attitude. It’s quasi-military in its approach and Robert Halfon and committees meant those “iin Portcullis House. “It’s increasing versal child benefit. I was chairman of the Cambridge some of the whips have been there too long.” Priti Patel. Impor- positions were no longer in size, just look at the voting patterns.” The right University Tory Reform Group. So why me? I tend to The whips themselves currently divide the Tory tantly, MPs feel available as soft landings is the mythical beast of the Conservative Party, get branded ‘right-wing’ because I believe in demo- right along a pair of axes. New and old get their chairman of the 1922 committee, he that ambitious young members a mass of MPs who can ruin prime ministers and cratic self-determination rather than a European su- different colours on the vertical. Issues form the does not act as a leader, preferring will have to use the existing for those causing trouble regards itself as the keeper of the Thatcher flame. perstate and I believe in a strong defence, but these horizontal axis. Europe crosses the generational instead to act as a respected be- mechanisms within the party It is often treated as one large homogenous group issues are mainstream among the British people.” boundaries but otherwise the picture is “very hind-the-scenes operator, main- to build a right-wing power but the truth is the right’s numbers rise and fall The issue is the same for the new intake. mixed”, I’m told. The whips are finding the behav- taining the balance of the coali- base. One says: “I can’t see an- force in British politics.” He continues: “Cameron constantly, dependent on a combination of the issue, One, who is regularly mentioned as a new iour of their MPs very difficult to track and while tion by pushing for the interests yone from the 2005 or 2010 in this regard is showing more in common with personality and the government. There is also a prominent member of the right-wing, loathes there are the serial rebels, the main body of the of the Conservative Party to intake becoming leaders New Labour than Conservatives of the past.” transformation occurring within the traditional view it. “I’m a pro-free market libertarian but don’t party can switch to the right on issues or remain ensure the right’s interests are, in without those. They would This is not an attitude that the Tory right is of the right as a new generation of MPs, in a party pigeon hole me. Many of the new intake want loyal to the government. There are no set rules. the words of a member of the have to come through the comfortable with. They are far more at home that is far larger and whose MPs are very different to restore the integrity of backbenchers and it’s “Being right wing is not a generational thing,” executive, “given due promi- existing structures, particu- with the instinctive self-confidence that Mar- from a decade ago, pick up the flame and challenge not accurate to say that’s being right-wing.” says one veteran member. The attitudes of MPs nence” by the government. larly the 1922 committee.” garet Thatcher provided. She still “looms” over the older guard. With a coalition government, This question is not solely about self-identi- and their voting records suggest being right wing The 1922 committee Every Conservative the party, as a senior former minister puts it. He and many new MPs, the Tory right is changing. fication. In politics, it depends on what others is certainly not a divide of old vs new MPs within meetings now regularly attract leader has to be wary of a adds: “She acted on instinct. Look at Cameron’s For some Conservative MPs the definition of make of you. One new MP was surprised when the Conservatives. However, while the ideology over 100 MPs, a third of the powerful Tory right. David speech on NHS reforms with the five pledges. what the right represents is more prosaic. “The Tory a grandee of the party marched up and said may cross the generational divide, there are clear Conservatives’ parliamentary Cameron took it seriously You know they will have been focus grouped. right means you staying behind late at night to vote how impressed he was by how she had deftly differences and personality clashes between intakes. Pohle Richard Eggitt. Jonnny Archive. Hulton Lewis. Richard strength. MPs who previously when he became personally Thatcher never did that. She gave the party such constantly,” says one member of the 2010 intake. avoided being in either camp. She believed she One ambitious right wing member of the 2010 didn’t bother attending when involved in the AV referen- self-confidence and has never been replaced.” Key members don’t even understand the ques- had firmly followed her right-wing principles. intake mocks what he calls the “self-appointed “there was nothing to talk about” dum campaign earlier this Even over 20 years since her departure as tion. Talking to a right-wing MP, he is interrupted Europe is the issue that has traditionally defined leaders of the Conservative right”. He adds: “You flock because, even if not natural year. Cameron is respected. prime minister, her hold on the party continues. by Bill Cash, the MP perhaps most synonymous the Tory right. From Margaret Thatcher onwards, can see the different reactions when the older allies of the executive they “find “He’s very much his own man,” says One normally on-message 2010 intake member with euroscepticism in the party. Overhearing the particularly after the betrayal of the Maastricht Trea- guard speak. They get less support in the Commons it so fascinating”, as one MP puts a prominent right-wing backbencher, concedes: “It is still very much Thatcher’s party. tone of the discussion, he shakes his head: “Why ty in the early 1990s, it has built up leaders’ careers as everyone rolls their eyes when they speak.” it. David Cameron’s failed bid to and that is preferable to being simply She won three elections.

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