Suella Braverman and the Tory grass roots!

 

Tory grassroots back Suella Braverman in Gaza protest row

One Tory activist suggested that ’90 per cent of Conservative Party members’ agree with her comments

By Eleanor Langford, Hugo Gye

November 9, 2023 4:10 pm(Updated 7:08 pm)

Grassroots Conservatives say Suella Braverman is a “real contender” for the Conservative leadership amid ongoing anger over her hardline rhetoric.

It comes after the Home Secretary last week promised to ban charities from handing out tents to homeless people, and yesterday compared disagreements over Israel’s war in Gaza with sectarian battles in Northern Ireland.

Despite her future in Cabinet appearing to hang in the balance, many Conservative activists have claimed she still represents “true conservative values”.

John Stafford, who is involved in both the Conservative Democratic Organisation and Campaign for Conservative Democracy, said her comments had broad support among party members.

He told i: “I think that what she has said is probably agreed by 90 per cent of Conservative Party members, who are utterly frustrated at the wokeness of the government…

“What she’s saying, I’m quite convinced that grassroots party members would agree with.”

Mr Stafford, who has been involved with the party for almost 60 years, said there was a huge gap between the Conservatives in Parliament and grassroots members.

“The ordinary members of the party are totally frustrated at the way in which many of the parliamentary party do not implement and stand up for conservative principles,” he said.

“One of those principles is, of course, a strong approach to law and order, and grassroots members feel that the parliamentary party too often takes a backseat on this issue.”

A Conservative source who is close to grassroots activists also told i that Ms Braverman was “providing leadership where it is sorely lacking from No 10”.

“Her courage in saying what needs to be said on immigration control and Hamas marches is refreshing,” they said.

“She will need to work on her campaigning style and personal appeal, but she is a real contender. As a Centre Right candidate, she would be a strong candidate.”

But other grassroot Tories said Ms Braverman’s rhetoric risked putting off voters. One Tory councillor told i that he believed many “broadly moderate” Conservative voters would be put off by her “inflammatory language”.

“There are many that will not vote for the party if she stays in her post. The party risks alienating many of their members,” they added.

Another Tory councillor said they agreed with her comments on preventing protests on Remembrance Sunday, but added: “Personally, and many I speak to, think she’s just trying to get sacked to propel her next leadership bid.

“I find it distasteful.”

The Home Secretary’s future in the Cabinet seems precarious after No 10 admitted that her comments in a piece published by The Times had not been signed off.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has described Ms Braverman as “out of control”, while Liberal Democrats leader Sir Ed Davey has called for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to sack her.

But Mr Stafford warned that removing Ms Braverman would mean “despair among grassroots would just increase from what it is already”.

“There are about half a dozen members of Cabinet which they really strongly support, including Suella Braverman who they feel are putting forward conservative views,” he said.

“If they lost one of those few people that are putting forward their views, that would just increase their despair at the way in which the party’s going.”