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Tory donor is expelled from party Tory donor is expelled from party
(20 minutes later)
The Conservative party says it has expelled a multi-millionaire donor who gave £100,000 to UKIP.The Conservative party says it has expelled a multi-millionaire donor who gave £100,000 to UKIP.
Spread-betting tycoon Stuart Wheeler said he was giving the money to UKIP in protest at the Tories' reluctance to talk about the EU. Spread-betting tycoon Stuart Wheeler had said he was giving the money to UKIP in protest at the Tories' reluctance to talk about the EU.
Mr Wheeler, an outspoken Euro-sceptic, gave £5m to the Conservatives in 2001.Mr Wheeler, an outspoken Euro-sceptic, gave £5m to the Conservatives in 2001.
He said that he would vote UKIP in European elections in June but that he intended to remain a member of the Conservative party.He said that he would vote UKIP in European elections in June but that he intended to remain a member of the Conservative party.
Donation delightDonation delight
Stuart Wheeler said he only found out he had been expelled by the Conservatives after hearing the news on the BBC, the BBC's political correspondent Reeta Chakrabarti said. Stuart Wheeler said he found out he had been expelled by the Conservatives only after hearing the news on the BBC, BBC political correspondent Reeta Chakrabarti said.
Mr Wheeler said the party was entitled to expel him, but stressed he was not a spokesman and should be allowed to express his views.Mr Wheeler said the party was entitled to expel him, but stressed he was not a spokesman and should be allowed to express his views.
The decision to expel him is expected to be formally announced by party chairman Eric Pickles after a meeting by the Conservative Party board.
The move is thought to have had the full backing of Tory leader David Cameron.
Mr Wheeler had told the News of the World newspaper that "the European Union is doing so much damage to our economy and our way of life that I can no longer vote Conservative at the European elections".Mr Wheeler had told the News of the World newspaper that "the European Union is doing so much damage to our economy and our way of life that I can no longer vote Conservative at the European elections".
UKIP leader Nigel Farage said he was delighted with Mr Wheeler's donation.UKIP leader Nigel Farage said he was delighted with Mr Wheeler's donation.
The decision to expel Mr Wheeler represented "a quick u-turn in 24 hours" for the Tories - who had previously said there were no plans to expel him, our correspondent added.The decision to expel Mr Wheeler represented "a quick u-turn in 24 hours" for the Tories - who had previously said there were no plans to expel him, our correspondent added.
"They've clearly decided that the prospect of Stuart Wheeler actively funding candidates who are going to stand against Tory candidates in European elections was really too much to stomach," our correspondent added."They've clearly decided that the prospect of Stuart Wheeler actively funding candidates who are going to stand against Tory candidates in European elections was really too much to stomach," our correspondent added.