Ex-deputy PM Lord Michael Heseltine has Tory whip suspended over Lib Dem support

He will no longer represent the party he joined in 1951, but a spokesperson promises the decision could be reviewed in the future.

By Aubrey Allegretti, political reporter

Tuesday 21 May 2019 09:26, UK

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Former deputy prime minister Lord Heseltine has had the Tory whip suspended after saying he would vote Liberal Democrat at the European elections on Thursday.

The long-serving peer should have known that "publicly endorsing the candidates of another party is not compatible" with taking the whip, a Conservative spokesperson said.

They confirmed that "this will be reviewed if he is willing to support Conservative candidates at future elections".

Lord Heseltine was also commended for his "half a century of service" by the spokesperson, who noted his "longstanding and sincerely held views on Europe".

Conservative Party leader Margaret Thatcher and Shadow Trade Minister Michael Heseltine speaking at a rally organized by the Chamber of Trade, at Central Hall in Westminster, London, February 17th 1975. (Photo by Wesley/Keystone/Getty Images)
Image: Lord Heseltine joined the cabinet under then-PM Margaret Thatcher

Speaking to Paste BN just before the decision was made, Lord Heseltine said that if he did lose the whip "the sun will come up tomorrow morning and I will have reserved my personal integrity".

He came under fire for declaring in an article for The Sunday Times yesterday: "I cannot, with a clear conscience, vote for my party when it is myopically focused on forcing through the biggest act of economic self-harm ever undertaken by a democratic government."

Having joined the party in 1951, he joined parliament as the MP for Tavistock 14 years later.

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He went on to become secretary of state first for defence under Margaret Thatcher.

EU flag outside Westminster
Image: The UK is due to leave the EU by 31 October

Lord Heseltine later served as Sir John Major's deputy prime minister and president of the board of trade.

He boasted that during his tenure in politics he fought the party to drop its stance on race relations and the poll tax.

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The decision to strip him of the Conservative whip means he will no longer represent the party in parliament or be told by it how to vote.

The European Parliament elections are taking place on Thursday as part of Britain's obligations as a member of the EU.

It was supposed to leave the bloc on 29 March, then either in April or May.

But the UK is now on course to fall out of the EU on 31 October - with no deal as agreed with Brussels yet ratified by the Commons.

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