Blue Collar Conservatives are a pressure group and caucus of Conservative Party Members of Parliament who identify as working class conservatives. It was founded in 2012 by former cabinet minister Esther McVey and a former conservative parliamentary candidate for Workington and Fujitsu UK’s head of corporate affairs, Clark Vasey.[1][2][3] It was relaunched at the beginning of the 2019 Conservative Party leadership election by Esther McVey, Ben Bradley, the MP for Mansfield since 2017, and Scott Mann, the MP for North Cornwall since 2015. The relaunch was reported to have rivalled the recent establishment of the One Nation Conservatives.[4]
Blue Collar Conservative Caucus | |
|---|---|
| President | Esther McVey |
| Chairperson | Ben Bradley |
| Founded | 2012 by Esther McVey |
| Ideology | Conservatism Right-wing populism Social conservatism Euroscepticism |
| Political position | Right-wing |
| National affiliation | Conservative Party |
| Colors | Blue |
| House of Commons (Conservative seats) | 130 / 349
|
| Website | |
| www | |
As a group, they aim to "champion working people and develop a conservative agenda to benefit the voters and communities most neglected by Labour". In the weeks prior to becoming Prime Minister, Boris Johnson said, "the blue-collar conservatism agenda – particularly in relation to supporting schools, police and other public services [...] is something I've already signalled I want to take forward in government."[5] The New Statesman has described the caucus as an influential grouping within the parliamentary party.[6]
In October 2022, Esther McVey stood down as chair and was replaced by Lee Anderson.[citation needed]
Campaigns edit
The group focus their campaigning on empowering blue-collar workers and other working-class people. They have also campaigned on Brexit, public services, Education in the United Kingdom and law enforcement.[7] The values of the caucus focus on "Conservative Values, Practical Delivery" and were attributed to the result of the 2019 general election, where the Conservatives won many seats in the "Red wall".[8][9]
Many in the caucus have supported cancelling High Speed 2.[10][11]
Leadership edit
Board members edit
- Esther McVey MP, president and founder
- Ben Bradley MP, chairman
- Councillor Clark Vasey, director
- Dehenna Davison MP, vice chair
- Scott Mann MP, vice chair
- Eddie Hughes MP, vice chair
- John Stevenson MP, vice chair
- Lee Rowley MP, vice chair
- Andrea Jenkyns MP, vice chair
- Andrew Lewer MP, vice chair
- Sir Gary Streeter MP, vice chair
Membership edit
According to the group's website; the members/supporters of the caucus include:[12]
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
Blue Collar Conversations: from pub to podcast edit
Since its relaunch, the group travelled to pubs across the country holding open events called 'Blue Collar Conversations' in which UK cabinet ministers and MPs discussed ideas and policies in an informal setting with members of the public. Speaking at one of those events, a member of the group is reported to have said: "The party needs to adopt the blue-collar Conservatism approach – travel to pubs across the country and reach out to the people… a pub-ocracy!"[13]
The group then launched a weekly podcast of the same name. The podcast is described as "a space to champion working people". New episodes are released every Sunday and cover a range of topical issues, from crime and justice to care homes and football, and the cosmetic industry to education. The podcast is hosted by Esther McVey and guests have included Nick Knowles, Ching He Huang, Toby Young, Linda Yueh, Tom Harwood, Chris Wright, Mark Radcliffe and Bradford City A.F.C.; however, the podcast prides itself on also providing a platform for everyday working people.[14]
References edit
- ^ Vasey, Clark (19 July 2019). "Only Johnson can deliver Blue Collar Conservatism". ConservativeHome. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
- ^ Vaughan, Richard (10 January 2024). "Fujitsu's head lobbyist during Post Office scandal set up Tory MPs' pressure group". inews.co.uk. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
- ^ Clark, Lindsay. "How governments become addicted to suppliers like Fujitsu". www.theregister.com. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
- ^ "Tory MPs launch rival campaign groups". BBC News. 20 May 2019. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
- ^ Malnick, Edward; Mikhailova, Anna (15 June 2019). "Theresa May's £27bn spending booby trap for Boris as lame duck PM threatens to derail next leader's budget". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
- ^ Maguire, Patrick (28 February 2020). "How the Blue Collar Conservatives could turn on Boris Johnson". New Statesman. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
- ^ "Campaigns". www.bluecollarconservatism.co.uk. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
- ^ "Values". www.bluecollarconservatism.co.uk. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
- ^ McVey, Esther (16 December 2019). "Tory electoral triumph has unleashed blue collar conservatism". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
- ^ Sholli, Sam (30 May 2019). "Heathrow and HS2 in firing line of many prime minister front runners". New Civil Engineer. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
- ^ "Are the new intake of Tory MPs really pushing the party to the centre?". CapX. 24 January 2020. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
- ^ "Team". Blue Collar Conservatism. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
- ^ Gye, Hugo (30 September 2019). "Boris Johnson should tour pubs to win over British people, Esther McVey says". i. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
- ^ "PODCAST". BCC.