Queen’s Speech amendment ‘venal act of self indulgence’, says former Tory MP

A possible Conservative amendment to the Queen's Speech condemning it for failing to include a bill advocating a referendum on EU membership would be a "venal act of self indulgence" that could be the beginning of the end of the Conservatives in office, a former Conservative MP has claimed.

A possible Conservative amendment to the Queen’s Speech condemning it for failing to include a bill advocating a referendum on EU membership would be a “venal act of self indulgence” that could be the beginning of the end of the Conservatives in office, a former Tory MP has claimed.

Writing on his blog, Jerry Hayes said that if the prime minister were to criticise the absence of legislation which would allow an in-out referendum, it would be “a thoroughly futile and pointless exercise” which would make the Tories “look like incompetent fools more interested in a stunt to save their own miserable skins”.

It would be “a gift to the Farangistas”, he added.

He also described some of the high profile Conservative MPs who have backed calls for a no vote in any potential referendum as “little people with large ambitions”.

“What on earth does the normally sensible Michael Gove think he is playing at? What’s happened to collective responsibility? I suspect that one day he will realise that this is the biggest mistake of his political career. Which is a shame as I like and admire him. Of O’Patz and the charisma free zone that is Phillip Hammond I am not surprised. Little people with large ambitions.”

Hayes, who was the Conservative MP for Harlow in Essex from 1983 to 1997, also called the news that some Tory MPs are pressing for a referendum on gay marriage “completely nuts”.

“This freak show has got to stop. But it will get worse. This is a gift for Farage giving him a sense of importance that is totally unwarranted.”

He added that he was “shocked at the language that is privately deployed against Cameron and Osborne”.

“The way some talk you would think that they are serial killers. For reasons beyond my comprehension many are genuinely keen to rid themselves of their only electoral asset before the election.”

2 Responses to “Queen’s Speech amendment ‘venal act of self indulgence’, says former Tory MP”

  1. Kevin Leonard

    IN OR OUT that is not the question for me the problem is that it is democracy which is being driven into the ground by every political parasite party within Westminster determined that the British people should never have a chance to vote on European membership.

  2. p a t r i c k

    Jerry Hayes wrote “The way some talk you would think that they are serial killers”, this is about “the language that is privately deployed against Cameron and Osborne” in the Conservative party.

    Why are the likes of Andrew Rawnsley not investigating this?

    When Gordon Brown’s temper became a major issue in the election of 2010, this was a consequence of reporting by Andrew Rawnsley.

    If Gordon Brown’s temper is a matter for public interest then surely the fact that some of in the Conservative party at Westminster talk as if Cameron and Osborne are serial killers is to be investigated.

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