Tory vice-chairman warns party against disunity

A Conservative vice-chairman has issued a warning to the party of the dangers of disunity over Brexit.

Chris Skidmore, who was appointed this month by Theresa May to chair the new Conservative Policy Commission, said the Tories must not allow themselves to be defined in the public mind by the issue of Europe.

Mr Skidmore’s warning came as the October deadline approaches for agreement on the UK’S withdrawal deal and a political declaration on the future UK/EU relationship.

In a warning to feuding Tories from the Remain and Leave wings of the party, Mr Skidmore said: “Together we stand, divided we fall.

“The message is particularly acute as we approach the final stage of Brexit negotiations with the EU.”

The Kingswood MP said that the history of the 1990s demonstrated the “futility of members of the same political family prioritising division over our duty to serve the country”.

He said that Conservatives must return their focus to domestic policies like pub- lic services, tax and controlling welfare bills if they are to “unite our party and win for the future”. Mr Skidmore said his Commission will carry out “one of the largest listening and engagement exercises ever conducted by a governing party” with the aim of developing policies to win back voters from Labour. He said delivering Brexit would not be the key to winning the next election.