However confused the Tories’ policy on Europe is, it seems there are some Tory candidates whose position is crystal clear. They want out. Their lines are so close to UKIP that they are making a mockery of the official Howard position of wanting to stay in the EU.

According to the East Anglian Daily Times,

opposition leader Michael Howard is being challenged by Labour to say why he is allowing candidates to fight the election on a platform of European withdrawal, which is not party policy.

The Tory candidate [in Harwich, Douglas Carswell], who is receiving funding directly from Lord Ashcroft…, has just issued a leaflet stating his opposition to the European Union/