The IEA/TPA free market ultras
These are the people – MPs and party members – who propelled Liz Truss and Kwasi Kwarteng to the highest offices, with the power behind the throne being the thinktanks that helped incubate the Prime Minister’s and Chancellor’s ideologies. The Institute of Economic Affairs and the Taxpayers’ Alliance are long-time advocates of what some call the Singapore model of cutting taxes and regulations across the Thames, and they have considerable influence in modern Conservatism, despite a lack of clarity about who is funding them. Now they have the perhaps uncomfortable experience of watching their theories being tested in real time. Such views are particularly popular with many Conservative members who elected Truss as leader. It is more of a minority pursuit among MPs, which explains the pressure on the Trust to reverse the scrapping of the 45pc top rate. However, she has other true believers around her, including die-hard freelance marketer Jacob Rees-Mogg.
Red statistical walls
This group has some notable crossover with another inner race – what you might call the Johnsonites of continuity – but in the Truce era, they are notable for their ideological opposition to the IEA/TPA brigade. Apart from Brexit, one of the key elements of Johnson’s election appeal, which helped elect many of the new Tory MPs in former Labor seats in 2019, was an interventionist approach to public works, which he described as “flattening”. Skeptics argued whether a new bypass or a new cinema would reverse decades of decline based on much wider structural factors, but the sense of a caring government was strong and remains so. This is by no means exclusive to the “red wall” or mandatory within it. Michael Gove, MP for Surrey, has been perhaps the most vocal supporter of the rise in conference, while as party chairman, Jake Berry, a leading northern Tory, has strongly backed Truss’s approach. There are supporters outside parliament too – one of the leading proponents of leveling is Ben Houchen, the mayor of Tees Valley.
The country/green Tory set
A particularly broad group, some of these MPs and members speak largely for agricultural interests, which may conflict with environmental concerns. But they often coincide and are a strong voice. Much of this faction’s effort is linked to skepticism about Truss’ push for renewed fossil fuel extraction, and particularly the return of fracking in England, which is highly unpopular with many MPs. Truss has made his concerns clear about what is seen as a backlash on green issues and net zero by appointing Chris Skidmore, a leading Tory Green MP, to lead the review of net zero policies. At the extremes of that race, but still boasting many Tory members, are official environmental groups such as the bird charity RSPB, which has spoken out against efforts under Truss to roll back environmental regulations. Archie Bland and Nimo Omer take you to the top stories and what they mean, free every weekday morning Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain information about charities, online advertising and content sponsored by external parties. For more information, see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and Google’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
The Maleficent/Great Beasts/Sunakites
Again, a race that is both something of an amalgam and whose circle in the Venn diagram overlaps with several others, but perhaps the most dangerous of all to Truss. Since the prime minister won the Tory leadership election and assembled a cabinet made up more or less of loyalists, ousted former ministers and other old hands who might have hoped for a job have largely retired to the back tables for to bide their time. Many – including former chancellor Rishi Sunak – stayed away from the conference. But others, including Gove and ousted former transport secretary Grant Shapps, have gone to Birmingham, ostensibly backing Truss but making clear their opposition to her economic priorities.
The culture warriors
This may seem like a clan in decline, given that Truss was truly an amateur in the field and has somewhat tamed her rivals from that faction, Suella Braverman and Kemi Badenoch, by giving them ministerial positions. But don’t underestimate his draw. One of the defining features of this year’s conference was the sheer number of fringe events, discussing issues such as free speech and “woke” beliefs, with panelists and audience members who seem convinced that progressive politics among young people is a threat to the west. on par with the Soviet Union during the Cold War. Some Tory MPs are also loyal. At a fringe meeting, backbencher Miriam Cates argued that limiting the number of young people going to university – another recurring theme was “Mickey Mouse degrees” – would not only save money but prevent more teenagers from being indoctrinated into a liberal purgatory. The audience seemed to agree.
