The Tory Reform Group, representing One Nation Conservatives, has refused to back leadership candidates Robert Jenrick and Kemi Badenoch due to their rhetoric being far from the party’s best. Set up in the 1970s, TRG has a history of moderate, values-driven politics. Jenrick and Badenoch have failed to engage the majority of TRG members and have strayed from One Nation values. With Brexit, the TRG’s influence has diminished.
Amid the leadership contest, Tory MPs are planning to make it harder for a vote of no confidence in the leader to be triggered in the future. Currently, a vote is triggered if 15% of MPs submit a letter, but the new rule could increase the threshold to 30%. This change comes as Badenoch and Jenrick remain the final candidates, neither of whom has secured widespread support among TRG members.
Additionally, Jenrick has come under fire for suggesting a one-for-one migrant swap with France last year, which was never adopted. Badenoch’s camp argues this shows Jenrick’s lack of commitment to hardline immigration policies. Meanwhile, the NHS is facing challenges as waiting lists increase, A&E performance declines, and long waits for treatment persist. Health experts warn of a grim winter ahead for the NHS.
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