Dominic Grieve and two fellow exiled Tories spoke at the Crowne plaza in Gerrards Cross yesterday evening (November 25) as they welcomed life-long Conservative Lord Heseltine - who told the crowd to vote Lib Dem or for the “defrocked” conservative candidates across the country.
Former Beaconsfield MP Mr Grieve began the evening with a speech, emphasising that alongside the two other independent candidates, Anne Milton and David Gauke, they would “push the agenda for moderation in our politics and for getting away from the dreadful polarisation that is tearing our country apart.”
He joked that “this evening’s going to be much more fun than the launch of the conservative party manifesto.”
Anne Milton, former Guildford MP, and David Gauke, former South West Hertfordshire MP, spoke similarly to Mr Grieve of how they no longer support the direction in which the Conservative party is going, with Ms Milton describing Boris Johnson as a “spoilt child”.
READ MORE: Boris's deal 'will do this country unique and serious harm' says Dominic Grieve
The three MPs at the event all lost the whip earlier this year and were ousted from the Conservative party as they refused to support the Prime Minister’s Brexit deal - a decision Mr Gauke said they would all make again “without hesitation.”
Mr Grieve then introduced Lord Heseltine, previous deputy Prime Minister who served as a Conservative Member of Parliament for 35 years.
He made light of the Conservatives’ ‘Get Brexit Done’ slogan whilst pumping his fist in the air, stating that if you believe that President Trump’s “heart is there across the world to the underprivileged” and he would be “generous to anyone” then you would believe Brexit too.
The politicians were then asked questions by the audience, the majority of whom seemed to be supporters of the ousted Tories if the loud cheers and rounds of applause throughout the event were anything to go by.
The three independent candidates certainly didn’t praise Boris Johnson’s leadership or character – with Ms Milton blasting him for being an “ill-mannered, disgraceful man.”
When an audience member asked about tactical voting and who the MPs suggest voting for to keep the Conservatives out of power, Lord Heseltine suggested they vote Lib Dem or for the independent ex-Tory candidates.
Lord Heseltine had his Conservative Party whip suspended earlier this year in May after saying he would vote for the Lib Dems at the European Parliament election.
The three independent candidates and Lord Heseltine were certain on what they were asking for from voters – “put country before party”, the definite mantra of the evening.
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