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Tory donor threatens to defect over Europe
Joe Murphy, Political Editor18 Sep 2008
David Cameron was today threatened by the possible defection of one of the Tories' biggest donors in a row over Europe.
Spread betting tycoon Stuart Wheeler hinted he may back Ukip in next year's European elections unless Mr Cameron hardens policy on Europe.
The businessman bailed out the Conservatives with a record £5 million gift in 2001 and has continued to give smaller sums. But he made clear he did not trust the Conservative leader not to relegate the thorny issue of Europe to "the back burner" if he wins power.
Mr Wheeler said: "The reality is that a new Conservative government will have a great deal it wants to achieve which has nothing whatsoever to do with Europe. It does not like thinking about Europe. So Europe is all too likely to be put on the back burner." Mr Wheeler was delivering today's second annual Goldsmith lecture - in memory of financier Sir James Goldsmith, whose anti-EU Referendum Party stood against Conservatives in the 1997 election.
He is demanding that Mr Cameron commit the Tories to an "immediate and massive" renegotiation of Britain's relationship with the EU if he wins power, including junking the Lisbon Treaty. Mr Cameron has so far only pledged to block Lisbon if it has not been ratified by all 27 member states.
In recent months Mr Wheeler has been courted by Ukip leader Nigel Farage, whom he calls "clever and articulate".
He mounted a legal challenge this year to Gordon Brown's decision to ratify the Treaty, arguing the Prime Minister had unlawfully reneged on an election promise to hold a referendum.
Reader views (10)
Mr Wheeler would be most welcome in UKIP. We are the only centre party who are committed to restore Democracy to the UK. Lets hope he means what he says and joins, because Cameron has already made clear if the treaty is ratified before the next GE he will do nothing to offer a vote to the people.
Make no mistake once ratified that will be it. Britain will cease to exist as an Independent Nation. Ireland realises that, and will not allow themselves to be conned by promises, of 'Opt Outs'. Britain under Cameron would.
- Robert Feal-Martinez, Swindon, 19/09/2008 12:31
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dear sir-madam
the truth is there is little difference betwixt the ''establishment parties'',lib-lab-cons-green,if the electorate had courage they would elect ukip and genuine Independent meps and mps at next elections,june 2009,may 2010.
cameron is a ''blair clone'' he will not introduce flat tax ukip policy since 2003
he will never
withdraw from any of eu treaties,or 120,000directives
he will not stop common agricultural policy or common fisheries ,which have made uk dependent on imported food.
he will not part nationalise gas or electricity from german or french ownership
he will not reopen post offices,so queues resembled moscow bread queues
- Robin, london,England, 18/09/2008 14:25
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We desperatley need Brown to be overthrown so we can have a general election in the Spring.
That way Cameron will have to act as the Treaty would not have been fully ratified by then.
I will read their manifesto and will not vote Tory unless they promise to reverse the nightmares
that are the Lisbon Treaty,the Human rights Act and halt mass uncrolled immigration.
- Chris, London, 18/09/2008 12:26
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Stuart Wheeler is dead right. Cameron promised that an incoming Tory government would give us a referendum on the Lisbon Constitutional Treaty, if it hadn't been ratified. It is highly likely that the EU will push for its ratification before the Tories have a chance to fulfil this promise, Cameron was well aware of this when he made it.
Furthermore, the Tories promised that there would be referenda on any future EUromonster treaties, again safe in the knowledge that, as the Lisbon Treaty is self-amending, there will be no more EU treaties.
All of this argument is going on whilst the anti-democratic institutions of the EU are implementing the Lisbon Constitution through the back door, in a piecemeal fashion.
I sincerely hope that the Tories attitude towards sell-out to the EU will harden once they are in office. Right now, they have an unmissable chance to distance themselves from the left-liberal, Britain-hating traitors of NuLabour and the LibDems.
- Keith Lonsdale, Doncaster, 18/09/2008 12:04
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I expect the Tories will survive, after all they still have the millions from Lord Ashcroft, the non-resident party chairman, who still doesn't pay UK taxes and ships in millions to Tory coffers from Belize, and other off-shore tax havens by circuitous routes. I'm sure there are many more similar donors who we haven't yet heard about. Talk about Labour sleaze, the Tories are the past and present masters. David Cameron knows it will be impossible to withdraw from Europe; William Hague's vague promises about our future position are pathetic. Mrs Thatcher signed the Maastricht Treaty and without complete withdrawal and all that would entail in terms of trade etc, we are in it for the duration. Deal with it.
- Val Daniels, Mijas Costa. Spain, 18/09/2008 11:44
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Well, if your aim is to get out of the EU it makes sense to back a party that has a policy of getting out of the EU....rather than one which umms and aahs about it all.
No?
- Tim Worstall, Bath UK, 18/09/2008 11:24
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Let's hope Wheeler recognises just how shifty Cameron is on the EU, and isn't taken in my hollow promises.
- David, Chester, 18/09/2008 11:08
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Mr Wheeler, the voice of sanity! Keep the pressure up. Labour's Liam Byrne dealt you an advantage in manipulating the EU migration and births statistics.
Oh, and could could add full restructure of the NHS.
Thank you for being a realist.
- Maria, London, 18/09/2008 10:50
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With more than 85% of the British people wanting a say on the Lisbon Treaty and on the U.K.'s continuing slide toward provincial status as part of an E.U. federal state, this is an issue that isn't going away -- much as David Cameron might wish it would. The issue is a big reason for the distrust in Brown and Clegg, whose ratings are now at rock bottom. These political leaders might all wish that the European Question will somehow wander away -- but it won't.
At present David Cameron is hoping against hope (in fact, I suspect colluding with Labour) to stall a general election until the bullying and blackmail have forced the Irish people into finally providing the right answer to the Franco-German axis. That way, he feels that he can avoid letting the British people have a say on the future constitutional position of the U.K. (change from country to province), but most can see through it.
Nigel Farage has never turned me on (I would have much preferred that U.K.I.P. had allowed Robert Kilroy-Silk to take over), but U.K.I.P. is the only party that presents an honest position on Europe. So if David Cameron isn't willing to state that the British people will finally have an honest say on Europe, regardless of the Irish outcome, there is an alternative for everyone who still cherishs saying that they live in a country called the United Kingdom. The economic turmoil will pass, but U.K. sovereign once gone, will never return.
- Phil Jones, London UK, 18/09/2008 10:46
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Far better for Stuart Wheeler to stay with the Conservatives, where he can make more noise and threaten to withhold donations, than to join UKIP and become a lost voice. I admire the man greatly, and certainly back his cause 100 percent. There is no telling what the Conservatives will do about Europe, but there will be immense pressure on them at the time of the General Election to renegotiate. For one of the big hitters to flounce off at a critical time will achieve nothing.
- Ken, Bexleyheath, 18/09/2008 10:29
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