Tory MPS in backlash over ‘bonkers’ entryism fears

Membership surge raised worries about former Ukip members flooding local party associations

THE Conservative Party has told local associations to be wary of new recruits, prompting a backlash from Tory MPS who described fears of entryism by Brexiteers and former Ukip members as “bonkers”

The party has been encouraging local associations to reject applications from prospective members with views that are deemed “inconsistent” with it, a leaked memo has shown.

At the same time, some pro-remain Tory MPS, including Anna Soubry, the MP for Broxtowe, have expressed fears their local parties are being flooded with Brexiteers and Ukip supporters.

However Robert Halfon, the Tory MP for Harlow, said: “I’ve met some of the new members. They seem to be moderate [on] Brexit.

“But if some Brexit people decide to join because they believe that this party is going to keep the referendum promise, I’m delighted. And this is from someone who voted Remain.

“My constituency voted 68 per cent to leave the EU,” he told the website Politics Home. “I learnt a lot from this. They’re not extremists.

“The essence of the [Anna] Soubry view is that if any of the 17million who voted for Brexit join the Tories that is somehow extremist ‘infiltration’. That is bonkers.”

Arron Banks, the former Ukip donor, has appealed to Leave.eu supporters to join the Tories to “unseat May”.

He said an influx of Brexiteers would ensure someone “like Boris Johnson or Jacob Rees-mogg” could triumph in the event of a leadership contest.

Ms Soubry said: “The people joining are actually not Conservative – they are only joining the party to get rid of its leader.”

A memo from the party’s campaign headquarters to local associations encourages them to refuse membership to people “whose declared opinions or conduct shall … be inconsistent with the objects or financial well-being of the association, or likely to bring the party into disrepute”.

Daniel Kawczynski, MP for Shrewsbury and Atcham, also opposed the warning against new recruits.

He said: “We accepted former Labour and Liberal Democrat councillors and even MPS who campaigned against us in the past, so what’s the difference? We cannot gerrymander or be selective in the people we allow to join unless they have done something which is unacceptable, or highly illegal.”

Marcus Fysh, the MP for Yeovil, said: “The Conservative Party should be a broad church and if people want to join the party, then that should be up to them.”

Last weekend, Mr Banks wrote in The Sunday Times: “We will support Brexit MPS and recruit new members, hopefully in areas where the party has extreme ‘Remain’ MPS.”