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Michael Heseltine lambasted by former colleague for EU stance Michael Heseltine lambasted by former colleague for EU stance
(about 14 hours later)
Michael Heseltine has been denounced as an unprincipled egotist by one of his former Conservative cabinet colleagues, as a fresh row erupted over whether ministers should get a free vote in the EU referendum.Michael Heseltine has been denounced as an unprincipled egotist by one of his former Conservative cabinet colleagues, as a fresh row erupted over whether ministers should get a free vote in the EU referendum.
The former deputy prime minister was criticised by Norman Tebbit after saying that David Cameron would become an international laughing stock if he bowed to pressure to suspend collective cabinet responsibility when the nation votes on whether to remain in or leave the EU.The former deputy prime minister was criticised by Norman Tebbit after saying that David Cameron would become an international laughing stock if he bowed to pressure to suspend collective cabinet responsibility when the nation votes on whether to remain in or leave the EU.
Lord Tebbit said that Lord Heseltine “does not understand that, on this issue, not only the Conservative party, but the whole country is divided” and that Eurosceptic ministers were determined to back the campaign to leave Europe regardless of what Cameron ordered.Lord Tebbit said that Lord Heseltine “does not understand that, on this issue, not only the Conservative party, but the whole country is divided” and that Eurosceptic ministers were determined to back the campaign to leave Europe regardless of what Cameron ordered.
“Michael [Heseltine] would not recognise a principle if it were staring him in the face, unless it was about his own ego,” said Tebbit, who complained that Heseltine “did his very best to undermine the former prime minister [Margaret] Thatcher”.“Michael [Heseltine] would not recognise a principle if it were staring him in the face, unless it was about his own ego,” said Tebbit, who complained that Heseltine “did his very best to undermine the former prime minister [Margaret] Thatcher”.
His comments came after Heseltine told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “[Allowing a free vote] would be to make the prime minister a laughing stock across the world”, and mocked the idea that it would be possible for cabinet ministers to campaign on different sides in the referendum and to then work together amicably afterwards.His comments came after Heseltine told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “[Allowing a free vote] would be to make the prime minister a laughing stock across the world”, and mocked the idea that it would be possible for cabinet ministers to campaign on different sides in the referendum and to then work together amicably afterwards.
Tebbit said that Cameron should grant ministers a free vote because they were going to treat this as a free vote matter anyway. And he said that, if Heseltine thought it would be hard for the party to unite after having a free vote on a referendum, it would be just as hard for the party afterwards if ministers were forced to vote against their principles.Tebbit said that Cameron should grant ministers a free vote because they were going to treat this as a free vote matter anyway. And he said that, if Heseltine thought it would be hard for the party to unite after having a free vote on a referendum, it would be just as hard for the party afterwards if ministers were forced to vote against their principles.
“To have a civil war within the Conservative party at that time, in the belief that the referendum having been determined the participants in the civil war are going to sit around the table and happily smile together, is, I think, rather naive,” he said.
In a jibe at what some see as the shallowness of Cameron’s demands, Tebbit added: “Of course [having a free vote] won’t make Cameron any more of a laughing stock than the whole of his renegotiation is doing.”In a jibe at what some see as the shallowness of Cameron’s demands, Tebbit added: “Of course [having a free vote] won’t make Cameron any more of a laughing stock than the whole of his renegotiation is doing.”
The issue of whether or not Cameron will allow his ministers to campaign openly to leave the EU while remaining in office has come to the fore after he signalled at the end of last week that the referendum could be held in the summer of 2016.The issue of whether or not Cameron will allow his ministers to campaign openly to leave the EU while remaining in office has come to the fore after he signalled at the end of last week that the referendum could be held in the summer of 2016.
Pro-Europeans want Cameron to resist calls to declare the referendum a free vote matter. Those backing a campaign to leave the EU scored a modest victory when Stephen Gilbert, the Conservative’s deputy chairman, announced he was standing down from his post as his part-time job with the polling firm working for theBritain Stronger in Europe campaign created a potential conflict of interest.Pro-Europeans want Cameron to resist calls to declare the referendum a free vote matter. Those backing a campaign to leave the EU scored a modest victory when Stephen Gilbert, the Conservative’s deputy chairman, announced he was standing down from his post as his part-time job with the polling firm working for theBritain Stronger in Europe campaign created a potential conflict of interest.
All sides broadly accept Cameron’s insistence that while the government is still negotiating new terms of membership with the EU, ministers should be obliged to support the prime minister’s strategy.All sides broadly accept Cameron’s insistence that while the government is still negotiating new terms of membership with the EU, ministers should be obliged to support the prime minister’s strategy.
Related: Innies, outies, unclears: where ministers stand on EU referendumRelated: Innies, outies, unclears: where ministers stand on EU referendum
But, with a deal expected by February, there is now intense focus on whether Cameron will then suspend collective responsibility, enabling potentially dozens of ministers to campaign for the leave camp, or whether he will insist on ministerial support to remain in the EU.But, with a deal expected by February, there is now intense focus on whether Cameron will then suspend collective responsibility, enabling potentially dozens of ministers to campaign for the leave camp, or whether he will insist on ministerial support to remain in the EU.
John Redwood, another Conservative Eurosceptic, said that he thought half a dozen cabinet ministers were minded to vote to leave the EU and that he expected Cameron would eventually concede a free vote.John Redwood, another Conservative Eurosceptic, said that he thought half a dozen cabinet ministers were minded to vote to leave the EU and that he expected Cameron would eventually concede a free vote.
No 10 said Cameron would make a decision about whether or not to suspend collective responsibility when the EU renegotiation is complete and the referendum gets underway.No 10 said Cameron would make a decision about whether or not to suspend collective responsibility when the EU renegotiation is complete and the referendum gets underway.
In the past Cameron has suggested that, if the government as a whole backs the in campaign, ministers should be forced to support that position too. But he may relent if the prospect of mass ministerial resignations becomes too threatening.In the past Cameron has suggested that, if the government as a whole backs the in campaign, ministers should be forced to support that position too. But he may relent if the prospect of mass ministerial resignations becomes too threatening.
The Conservative party has already declared that it will remain institutionally neutral during the campaign..The Conservative party has already declared that it will remain institutionally neutral during the campaign..
In the Lords, Joyce Anelay, a Foreign Office minister, told peers that the government was close to getting a deal with EU partners on some aspects of Cameron’s welfare demands.In the Lords, Joyce Anelay, a Foreign Office minister, told peers that the government was close to getting a deal with EU partners on some aspects of Cameron’s welfare demands.
The EU was close to a “final decision” on stopping child benefit being paid for children abroad, said Lady Anelay, and Britain was “well on the way” to getting what it wanted on stopping EU migrants claiming unemployment benefits for their first six months in the country.The EU was close to a “final decision” on stopping child benefit being paid for children abroad, said Lady Anelay, and Britain was “well on the way” to getting what it wanted on stopping EU migrants claiming unemployment benefits for their first six months in the country.