Different leaders, same policies. Even though profile seems moderateThe arrival of Rishi Sunak in Downing Street did not change one bit the route set by Boris Johnson in the 2019 general election campaign, in which the ‘Tories’ secured a majority of the vote, and made ending irregular immigrant arrivals to the UK one of its top priorities. A proposal that has proven the substitution Conservative party to radical right and that they had abandoned the most moderate sector of formation, represented in their time by the former prime minister David Cameronin the hidden second row.

Parliament’s approval of the controversial Illegal Immigration Act, which regulates about immigration detention and deportation in an unusual situation, has become a real example of the resilience of Sunak and the Minister of Home Affairs, Suella Braverman, willing to apply despite resistance from human rights and justice organizations. The law drew criticism even from the Conservative Party, including the former Prime Minister Theresa MayWHO criticized the new rules in the House of Commons shortly before approval to ensure that “it will enable traffickers to earn more money at the expense of human misery“.

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However, warnings from some of the ‘Tories’ deputies did not stop this most difficult sector formations that have taken the reins of Government with a series of seditious proclamation aims to win back the electorate that gave Johnson an absolute majority in 2019. And lead them Sunakwho, while holding a less populist position and having a more restrained and sober character than its predecessors, is one of first deputy conservative in favor Brexitwhich helps him gain weight in formation.

“Sunak may look like a moderate technocrat, but he is actually one social and fiscal conservative“, explained to EL PERIÓDICO, from the Prensa Ibérica group, Bale Teamprofessor at Queen Mary University of London and author ‘Conservative Party After Brexit’ (Conservative Party after Brexit). “He knows that his fiscal conservatism will not appeal to many voters who voted for the Conservative Party in 2019, but he firmly believes that talk about crimefrom immigration and its rejection of low emission zones. There is also a snowball effect: once a party begins its journey towards radical right-wing populism, it is difficult to stop it.”

“Red Wall”

One of Sunak’s big goals is to defend voters of the “red wall”the central and northern regions of the country, which are predominantly inhabited by the working class and traditional workforce but socially conservative. Some of the voters the prime minister wants to attract loud speeches against immigration, despite the fact that this means a possible loss of votes among the supporters of the Conservative Party closest to the liberal centre. “That is a risk [Sunak] willing to assume: ‘Tories’ have an overwhelming majority in the southern constituencymore affluent and in many cases more liberal and opposed to Brexit can afford to lose more voters there compared to more marginalized groups in the north, who are less affluent and culturally conservative, who voted in favor of Brexit,” Bale said.

Conservative Party faction like Blue Collar Conservativescomposed of MPs from the constituencies of Central and North England and stubborn defender against immigration, has grown in recent years. Among its most prominent members is Lee Andersonone of the vice presidents of the formation, who a few days ago assured that asylum seekers who refused to settle on the barge ‘Bibby Stockholm’, known as “floating prison“ to welcome immigrants, they can”leave and return to France“.

climate policy

Outside of immigration policy, Sunak proved to be in a less powerful position than expected fight against climate change. Award more than one hundred new licenses for gas extraction and oil in the North Sea have awakened critic from several of his colleagues in the party, including the one who served as Minister of Environment and Energy until last June, Zac the Goldsmithand group representatives Conservative Environmental Networkformed by more than 150 ‘stories’ deputies.

The prime minister confirmed that the goal to achieve emission neutrality by 2050 This is still achievable thanks to investments in carbon sequestration plants, but there are a growing number of voices, both within and outside the formation, who think otherwise and fear that radical position The government in this case scares away more moderate voters.