Former Prime Minister Liz Truss will spearhead a drive to give Conservative voters “what they want” amid concerns Nigel Farage could pick up ticks on the ballot paper in the upcoming General Election.
Ms Truss, who spent 49 days as Prime Minister between September and October 2022, will be joined by top Tories Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg, Priti Patel and Sir Simon Clarke.
The quartet’s new “Popular Conservatism” group will urge current Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to present policies that appeal to traditional Tory voters while reconnecting Party members.
It is thought that anti-woke measures will be at the heart of the next election manifesto in a bid to counteract the threat of Richard Tice and Mr Farage’s Reform UK, which has been growing in popularity.
Last week Mr Tice said that he was “very confident” Mr Farage will play a role for Reform UK as he eyes a return to frontline politics and top pollster, James Johnson, who formerly worked in Downing Street, the former Breixt Party leader could singlehandedly doom the Tories.
The Mail on Sunday reports that the new group could focus on changes to the Equality Act and the Human Rights Act, including a u-turn on the Government’s strategy to remove illegal migrants to Rwanda.
Speaking about the strateg, Sir Jacob said: “It is only right that we try to ensure that the manifesto Rishi Sunak presents to the electorate is something that will chime with what Conservative voters want.
“That way we can help the PM to be re-elected and save the country from the disaster of a Keir Starmer-led socialist government.”
Labour has been vocal about plans to ambush the Rwanda timetable by forcing a vote on the policy as the Commons returns from Christmas recess.
Meanwhile, Mr Sunak has hit back at reports he did not back the Rwanda scheme when he was chancellor because he sought “value for money” for taxpayers.
A report has suggested that he wanted to see the plans scaled back while serving as chancellor under Boris Johnson as he was unsure of how effective it would be.
Last night, a No 10 source said: “The PM was always fully behind the principle of the scheme as a deterrent. As Chancellor, it was his job to make sure it delivered and taxpayers’ money was appropriately spent.”
