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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/mar/24/tory-donor-urges-david-cameron-resign-after-eu-referendum
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| Tory donor calls for leadership contest after EU referendum | Tory donor calls for leadership contest after EU referendum |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A major Conservative donor has called for David Cameron to face a leadership contest immediately after the EU referendum, whatever the result. | A major Conservative donor has called for David Cameron to face a leadership contest immediately after the EU referendum, whatever the result. |
| Alexander Temerko, who has given the Tories more than £300,000 since 2012 and supports Boris Johnson, said he believed the London mayor would be the right candidate to reunite the party after a divisive EU referendum campaign. | Alexander Temerko, who has given the Tories more than £300,000 since 2012 and supports Boris Johnson, said he believed the London mayor would be the right candidate to reunite the party after a divisive EU referendum campaign. |
| Temerko is supporting the campaign for Britain to stay in the EU, in contrast to Johnson, who is one of the highest-profile leave campaigners. | Temerko is supporting the campaign for Britain to stay in the EU, in contrast to Johnson, who is one of the highest-profile leave campaigners. |
| Related: Boris Johnson is the best hope for the Tories – and for Britain | Alexander Temerko | Related: Boris Johnson is the best hope for the Tories – and for Britain | Alexander Temerko |
| However, he suggested the party needed a new leader regardless of whether Britain stays in or out of the EU, and endorsed Johnson as the best person for the job. | |
| Writing for the Guardian, he said: “The Conservative party is fracturing following the resignation of Iain Duncan Smith and the infighting that’s likely to follow the referendum could be disastrous without any uniting influence. | Writing for the Guardian, he said: “The Conservative party is fracturing following the resignation of Iain Duncan Smith and the infighting that’s likely to follow the referendum could be disastrous without any uniting influence. |
| “With a majority of just 12, seven to 20 rebel MPs are all it would take to cause a hung parliament and trigger another general election. My recommendation would be a leadership election immediately after the vote in June to unite MPs and members.” | “With a majority of just 12, seven to 20 rebel MPs are all it would take to cause a hung parliament and trigger another general election. My recommendation would be a leadership election immediately after the vote in June to unite MPs and members.” |
| He has previously offered to help fund any leadership campaign run by Johnson and described the London mayor’s main rival, George Osborne, as “very boring, very tedious, a very cold personality”. | He has previously offered to help fund any leadership campaign run by Johnson and described the London mayor’s main rival, George Osborne, as “very boring, very tedious, a very cold personality”. |
| “We may be on opposite sides of the referendum debate, but more than ever I believe Johnson offers the best hope of restoring unity to the Conservative party and of re-establishing the UK as a strong voice for openness and international cooperation,” he wrote. | |
| “He can count on my backing – and hopefully that of other business-minded Conservatives – as the next party leader and our next prime minister.” | |
| Cameron has said he plans to stay as leader whether or not he wins the EU referendum for the in campaign. | Cameron has said he plans to stay as leader whether or not he wins the EU referendum for the in campaign. |
| However, it is extremely likely he would face a leadership challenge if Britain votes to leave. Even if the result is a narrow victory for the remain camp, he could still face a bid to replace him as prime minister with a Eurosceptic more in tune with the Tory grassroots. | However, it is extremely likely he would face a leadership challenge if Britain votes to leave. Even if the result is a narrow victory for the remain camp, he could still face a bid to replace him as prime minister with a Eurosceptic more in tune with the Tory grassroots. |
| Ukrainian-born Temerko is a director of the energy company Offshore Group Newcastle (OGN) and a former executive of Russian oil companies. | Ukrainian-born Temerko is a director of the energy company Offshore Group Newcastle (OGN) and a former executive of Russian oil companies. |
| He has personally donated about £330,000 to the Conservatives over the last four years and OGN has separately given about £470,000. | He has personally donated about £330,000 to the Conservatives over the last four years and OGN has separately given about £470,000. |