Conservative Growth Group Is Working To "Unite The Right"

Leading figures in the Conservative Growth Group (CGG), a free market-favouring faction within the Tory Party, will place a renewed focus on uniting MPs on the right to increase pressure on the Government and bolster support for its ideas ahead of the election.

Launched in the wake of Liz Truss’s downfall as prime minister after 49 days in office last year, the influential caucus, chaired by Conservative MP for North East Hampshire Ranil Jayawardena, advocates for a smaller state and urges Government to reduce taxes, both of which were core to Truss’ ideology.   

The group of backbench Tories has more than 60 MPs signed up, and its membership continues to grow. Its driving focus is on promoting free market ideas, such as liberalising the planning system and cutting taxes rather than to try to propel a leading figure into power. Prominent MPs in the group include Jayawardena as well as Simon Clarke, and Priti Patel. Yet with taxes at a record high, and resistance to planning reform rife among Tory MPs, the CGG faces a difficult task. 

A Senior Conservative MP told PoliticsHome they are keen to portray the group as part of the “reasonable right” in the coming months.

The CGG hoped its efforts to compromise and work with the Government – such as backing its contentious Rwanda Bill earlier this month – would prove this point to the wider parliamentary party. The move was in contrast with other major groups within the Conservative Party, such as the European Research Group (ERG), the New Conservatives, Common Sense Group, and Northern Research Group, which worked as a coalition to undermine Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and by abstaining on the Rwanda Bill. 

Jayawardena told PoliticsHome the majority of MPs in the party believe in