Has Kemi Badenoch sounded the death knell for one nation Conservatism?

"Kemi Badenoch kicked off the gathering in Manchester with a pledge to withdraw the UK from the European convention on human rights, a move which would have been controversial inside the party just a few years ago but now commands the support of the vast majority of Conservative MPs. The Tory leader has also committed to scrapping the UK's net zero target by 2050, shattering the mainstream political consensus on the climate crisis."

"Those who believe it does point out that the One Nation parliamentary caucus has been quietly dissolved. One MP recalls an attempt to reinvigorate the group after the election, which went nowhere. At a gathering held shortly after Labour won power, MPs decided not to meet again. People felt that there'd been enough factions and we needed to be united as a party, a second MP who was present said."

"Damian Green, the former deputy prime minister who chaired the One Nation caucus before the 2024 election, said the decision was made after Badenoch asked MPs to disband the factions that had caused so much instability for successive prime ministers. I don't think the balance of the parliamentary party has particularly changed by the fact that we lost 250 seats. The makeup from left to right is about the same, he said."

Kemi Badenoch pledged to withdraw the UK from the European Convention on Human Rights, a stance that now commands support from most Conservative MPs. The Tory leader committed to scrapping the UK's net zero target by 2050, breaking the mainstream political consensus on climate policy. Conference rhetoric hardened on asylum seekers and showed growing overtures to Nigel Farage's politics. The One Nation parliamentary caucus was quietly dissolved after MPs chose not to meet again following the election. Damian Green said Badenoch asked MPs to disband factions, and he judged the parliamentary makeup from left to right to be about the same. Key new intake members include Harriet Cross, Neil Shastri-Hurst and Joe Robe.

Read at www.theguardian.com