Put anti-woke agenda at heart of manifesto, urges Truss’s ‘PopCon’

A DRIVE to put ‘popular Conservative’ policies and anti-woke measures at the heart of the next Election manifesto is set to be launched by Liz Truss and other top Tories.

The ex-Prime Minister will join Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg, Priti Patel and Sir Simon Clarke to form a new ‘Popular Conservatism’ group, aimed at reconnecting party members and stemming defections to Richard Tice’s Reform UK.

The new ‘PopCon’ group will urge Rishi Sunak to go to the country later this year with policies that appeal to traditional Tory voters. The Mail on Sunday understands this could include amending the Equalities Act, which some Tory MPs blame for watering down transgender guidance to schools.

PopCon may also call for reforms to the Human Rights Act, amid claims it cripples the Government’s strategy to remove illegal migrants to Rwanda. Last night, Sir Jacob said: ‘It is only right that we try to ensure that the manifesto Rishi Sunak presents to the electorate is something that will chime with what Conservative voters want.

‘That way we can help the PM to be re-elected and save the country from the disaster of a Starmer-led socialist government.’

The move comes as Labour plots to ambush the Rwanda plan timetable by forcing a vote on the policy as the Commons returns from Christmas recess. Mr Sunak is also facing reports that as Chancellor during Boris Johnson’s premiership, he had doubts about sending migrants to the African country.

Last night, a No10 source said: ‘The PM was always fully behind the principle of the scheme as a deterrent. As Chancellor, it was his job to make sure it delivered and taxpayers’ money was appropriately spent.’