Speaking at One Nation Day on September 7 2019, TRG National Chairman, Owen Meredith, said:
WELCOME
We began planning this One Nation Day, back in February this year. At the time, the UK was set to leave the EU on March 29.
We wanted to have this conference now – an event we hold every other year – to help move our party and our country forward.
We wanted to continue to work the TRG has done over the last three years, focussing on One Nation values, the domestic agenda, and supporting the people – like all of you – who embody our values and share our aims.
When I had the honour of being elected Chairman of the TRG just over two years ago, I said we needed to look beyond Brexit. Because the values of One Nation Toryism could not be lost or abandoned over a single issue.
Whatever our views on Europe – and lets not forget that there are a diverse range of views on that issue in the TRG – the desire to see a moderate, liberal, pragmatic Conservative Party, in government, is what unites us.
As it happens, today’s conference has fallen at the end of a very challenging week for our Party. And our country. That was not our plan.
I’ll say a bit more about events of the past week shortly. But I do not want the importance or focus of today to be lost as a result of events elsewhere.
As those of you who were at our AGM will know, we are currently undertaking some TRG housekeeping and when looking through old papers in our archives, I recently came across our original constitution.
The founding document of the TRG from nearly forty-five years ago. They set out the aims and purpose of our organisation, which remains the same today, as they did then.
They read, quite simply: the group shall “develop a progressive social and political philosophy based upon the concepts of One Nation”; and, “seek to translate such philosophies into sound and practical proposals with a view to their implementation as Conservative Party policy.”
So, as we get stuck in to the meat of today’s conference, I urge us all to remember those aims.
Today has been designed to facilitate a discussion about how we translate our values into practical policies for a modern Conservative party, and for modern Britain.
And we’ve got a great line up for you to help do just that.
THE DAY
Shortly, we will hear from former Cabinet Minister Penny Mordaunt MP, speaking about the future of our party.
Then, we have a panel on Policy For Modern Britain.
And I’m delighted that we have today published a special edition of The Reformer which featured contributions from 40 of our members to fire up the debate about a One Nation domestic agenda.
After lunch, we’ll explore generational divisions in our Mind The Gap panel, before moving on to Global Britain looking at how the UK is viewed international and how we can shape our reputation beyond Brexit.
This afternoon, I am delighted we’ll be joined by TRG President, Ken Clarke for our in conversation, where he will be interviewed by Deputy Editor of City AM, Andy Silvester.
Before we wrap up our day looking at Election 2020 (or 2019) and how we win.
I hope you will all then join us for a well earned drink at the end of the day where we will hear from Culture Secretary and TRG Patron, Nicky Morgan.
Today is your day, I’d encourage everyone to engage in the discussion with a positive and forward-looking attitude.
We’ll be writing up each session for the website, and I’d also encourage you to tweet throughout the day using the hashtag #OND2019
THANKS
Of course, today would not be possible without the sterling work of the team who put it all together. It takes a huge amount of time and effort behind the scenes to put this event on, and people have given their time freely to do so.
I want to give special thanks to my very talented and supportive Deputy Chair Flora Coleman, and Board member James Baker who have done much of the work pulling the schedule together.
To Stephanie Reeves for taking on the role of Editor of The Reformer, and collating such a great publication.
To Sarah Fletcher, for expertly organising the logistics for today.
And the to the TRG Board for working tirelessly to make this day happen.
Can I also say a huge thanks in advance to all of our panellists and contributors today, and to all of you for attending and making this day a success.
EVENTS IN WESTMINSTER
Before we get going, I said I would return to the elephant in the room.
The TRG has always existed to be a critical friend to the Conservative party.
The Oxford English Dictionary describes a friend as, “a person with whom one has a bond of mutual affection.”
I know many of you feel that bond is currently being tested.
I feel you. I feel it too.
Seeing 21 Conservative MPs, including our President Ken Clarke and several Patrons, have the whip withdrawn for following their conscience was a very dark day.
These people are Conservatives. The parliamentary whipping cannot change that.
Whatever your view on the issue, the Conservative party is weaker without them. And we support Damian Green and the One Nation Caucus in calling for the whip to be restored!
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But I also strongly feel we must not lose sight of the real fight here.
We are, I hope, in the end-game of this Brexit chapter, and we need a united Conservative Party to emerge at the end of it – for the sake of the country.
At this crucial time, it is right we call out wrongdoing. But it is also right we are there to support our friend through these challenges.
Friends sometimes make bad decisions. Friends occasionally let us down. But above all, true Friends stand by each other.
In the last few days we have lost too many talented parliamentarians. Too many members have cut up their membership card. Now is not the time to walk away.
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When Boris Johnson pitched to TRG members for support in the leadership election, he said – and I quote:
“I want to thank the Tory Reform Group, its members and my colleagues who are patrons, for the fantastic work you have undertaken for our party. For over forty years you have rightly campaigned for a moderate, progressive, conservatism which I champion.
“The guiding principles of the Tory Reform Group, promoting compassionate conservatism, which includes both liberal and progressive social policy as well as outward looking internationalist foreign policy, are how we can and must unite our great country.”
He was right.
Yes, we must hold him to account and keep him true to those words. But we also must give him the time and opportunity to deliver.
For a moment, just look at the Spending Review this week – we have seen funding commitments for schools and the NHS; investment in hospitals and vocational education; support for young families to get a foot onto the housing ladder. As well resources to tackling climate change and a commitment to Net Zero by 2050.
One Nation principles, translated into policies, adopted by the Conservative Party in government – just as our founding documents call for.
So it is right that we hold our government and our Party true to One Nation principles. We must equally cheer when it gets things right, as we call it out when it gets them wrong.
But you know what, above all, as a friend, when times are really tough, we will pull together.
We are in the trenches of the next election, staring a Marxist opposition in the face.
I joined the Conservative Party to help get Conservatives into office, and I am not going to be complicit in handing the keys to Number 10 to Jeremy Corbyn and his left-wing cronies.
I fear for my country if that man every become Prime Minister. And I will do everything in my power to stop him.
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We are in exceptionally challenging times. I know the hurt and pain many TRG members feel at the moment. But now is the time to come together. It is our duty to stand and fight. I will fight with you.
Let me end by quoting the Prime Minister from this week’s PMQs:
“What this country needs is sensible, moderate, progressive Conservative government”
Together, that is what we are fighting for.