Divided Tories can't make their mind up on Europe
Richard Corbett, Deputy Leader of Labour MEPs, today highlighted the continued divisions over Europe in the Conservative party, after it was revealed that over 250 Tory councillors have defied specific instructions from the party and called for a massive repatriation of powers from the EU.
The Speakout campaign, which is bankrolled by the Europhobic millionaire and UKIP donor Paul Sykes, calls for a referendum with a view to effectively withdrawing the UK from the EU.
Richard said: "David Cameron may claim that the Tories take a constructive and moderate approach to Europe, but the reality is that the grass roots of his party still contains a substantial extremist blue rinse brigade.
"That hundreds of Conservative councillors have openly defied instructions from the leadership shows that Cameron is a leader who is not being followed." /Ends
Notes for the Editor
- More than 250 Conservative councillors have signed up to the Speakout campaign.
- Paul Sykes provided over £1m to UKIP for their 2004 European election campaign.
- In April 2006, David Cameron described UKIP as "fruitcakes, loonies and closet racists".
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