Pro-European Conservatives Join U.K. Group to Counter Brexiteers
- Morgan, Soames join group backing ‘one-nation’ politics
- Hard-Brexit backers ‘drowned out’ moderate voices: Soames
Theresa May speaks in the House of Commons
Photographer: House of Commons
Pro-European Conservative members of the U.K. Parliament have formed a party grouping in an attempt to counter the influence of the Brexiteer wing as the Tories gear up for a leadership election to replace Theresa May as prime minister.
As many as 50 MPs are signed up to the “One Nation” Conservatives, which has met regularly since early this month, former Education Secretary Nicky Morgan, one of the organizers, said in an interview. They’re essentially a counterpoint to the European Research Group of about 60 Brexiteer Tories that is influential in shaping May’s red lines on Brexit, even though many of them continue to reject the deal she’s negotiated with the European Union.