Michael Heseltine today hit out at hardline Brexit-backing Tories for the party’s European election “disaster” — and branded them a “destructive force”.
The Tory peer and former deputy prime minister had the Conservative whip suspended this week after saying he would back the Liberal Democrats in today’s vote. However, he today insisted the would not quit the party and instead pledged to “stay and fight”.
Writing for the Standard, Lord Heseltine, 86, said: “Some of those who are now attempting to take control of our party are not real Conservatives at all but a destructive force damaging to both my party and our country.”
He added: “When the results come in from these elections on Sunday night they are going to be a disaster for the Conservative Party. That will be the fault of the zealots on the Right who would not compromise and a leader who did not stand up to them as she could and should have done.”
On his decision to vote Lib Dem, he lamented losing the whip but questioned why Brexiteers who have shown “sustained disloyalty” to the Prime Minister have been treated differently.
He said: “The most likely consequence of this election will be a long period of bloodletting and recriminations. Indeed, it has already begun.
"I don’t know how long it will take the Conservatives to recognise this disaster and rediscover its traditional route to power — either through the aftermath from a catastrophic period of Labour government or through the appeal of the policies of One Nation Conservatism, or perhaps both.”
