Former Prime Minister Liz Truss launched her so-called Popular Conservatism (PopCon) initiative on Tuesday, after her key ally and former chancellor, Kwasi Kwarteng, announced his departure from Parliament after the next election, casting a shadow over the group’s launch.
The event, aimed at rejuvenating conservative principles, also witnessed the notable absence of Sir Simon Clarke, another ally of Ms. Truss, following controversial statements questioning the leadership of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
Despite these setbacks, the launch was bolstered by the presence of staunch supporters of the former prime minister, including Dame Priti Patel, Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg, and Lee Anderson, signalling a significant rallying point for the movement.
Key figures from outside the party were in attendance, such as broadcaster Nigel Farage and UKIP prospective leader Lois Perry.
Conservatives ‘Have Repurposed Themselves’
Ms. Truss added: “These people have repurposed themselves. They don’t admit they’re socialists or communists anymore, they say they’re ‘environmentalists.’ They say that they’re in favour of helping people across all communities. They are in favour of supporting LGBT people or groups of ethnic minorities.“They no longer admit that they are collectivists, but that is what their ideology is about. It’s all about taking power away from people and families and handing power to the state or unaccountable bodies.
“And the problem is, the Conservatives have tried to appease these people. They’ve tried to triangulate.”
In a direct critique of the current Conservative government, Ms. Truss condemned its compliance with progressive agendas, particularly highlighting the contentious issue of self-identification and regulations perceived as anti-capitalist.
Britons ‘Want Real Change’
Echoing Ms. Truss’s call for systemic change, UKIP leadership hopeful Ms. Perry, alongside former UKIP leader Mr. Farage, voiced their support for the PopCons initiative at the event, while pointing out that the group represented a minority of Tory MPs.Ms. Perry told The Epoch Times: “The British people want real change. They want controlled immigration, protection of free speech, and for their leaders to put hard-working citizens first.”
Ms. Perry added that under her leadership, UKIP would “give voice to forgotten citizens and hold the Conservative Party accountable.”
While Mr. Farage, attending in his capacity as a GB News presenter, refrained from endorsing a return to the Conservative Party, he acknowledged the significance of the PopCons assembly in representing a vital conservative perspective within the parliamentary faction.
Kwarteng to Exit Politics
Earlier on Tuesday, Mr. Kwarteng had announced his intention to step down as the member of Parliament for Spelthorne, Surrey, at the forthcoming general election. He has been a prominent figure on the party’s right wing and a close confidant of Ms. Truss.Mr. Kwarteng’s departure underscores the ongoing transformation within the Conservative Party, as it grapples with internal divisions and seeks to redefine its ideological stance amidst challenges from pressure movements on the right of the party, like PopCon.
The Spelthorne constituency, a stronghold for the Conservatives with only one Labour MP elected in over a century, had witnessed Mr. Kwarteng securing a significant majority of 18,393 votes in the last election.
His decision to not seek reelection adds to the growing list of more than 80 MPs, surpassing the 74 retirements in 2019, who have declared their exit from Parliament at the next election, including over 50 from the Conservative or former Conservative ranks.
Mr. Kwarteng’s brief but tumultuous stint as chancellor, lasting only 38 days under Ms. Truss’s premiership, was marked by controversy following his tax-cutting mini-budget, leading to his dismissal amid financial turmoil.
In a statement on Tuesday, he said, “It has been an honour to serve the residents of Spelthorne since 2010, and I shall continue to do so for the remainder of my time in Parliament.”
