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| Nobody in Downing Street made 'loon slur' - No 10 | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| No 10 has denied that "anyone in Downing Street" made comments reported in several newspapers describing Tory activists as "mad, swivel-eyed loons". | No 10 has denied that "anyone in Downing Street" made comments reported in several newspapers describing Tory activists as "mad, swivel-eyed loons". |
| The reports suggested a figure close to the PM used the term when blaming members for pressuring MPs over Europe. | The reports suggested a figure close to the PM used the term when blaming members for pressuring MPs over Europe. |
| Internet rumours later implicated Tory co-chairman Lord Feldman, but he denied making any "derogatory comments" and said he was taking legal advice. | Internet rumours later implicated Tory co-chairman Lord Feldman, but he denied making any "derogatory comments" and said he was taking legal advice. |
| Prime Minister David Cameron supports Lord Feldman's position, No 10 said. | Prime Minister David Cameron supports Lord Feldman's position, No 10 said. |
| The comments were allegedly made at a private dinner by someone with "strong social connections" to the prime minister, The Times, Mirror and Daily Telegraph newspapers reported, although they did not name the speaker. | The comments were allegedly made at a private dinner by someone with "strong social connections" to the prime minister, The Times, Mirror and Daily Telegraph newspapers reported, although they did not name the speaker. |
| "There's really no problem," the person is reported to have said, referring to more than 100 Conservatives who voted to express "regret" at the lack of an EU referendum bill. | "There's really no problem," the person is reported to have said, referring to more than 100 Conservatives who voted to express "regret" at the lack of an EU referendum bill. |
| "The MPs just have to do it because the associations tell them to, and the associations are all mad swivel-eyed loons." | "The MPs just have to do it because the associations tell them to, and the associations are all mad swivel-eyed loons." |
| Conservative associations are the constituency campaign groups made up of local party members. | Conservative associations are the constituency campaign groups made up of local party members. |
| A No 10 spokesman said: "It is categorically untrue that anyone in Downing Street made the comments about the Conservative Party Associations and activists reported in the Times and the Telegraph. | A No 10 spokesman said: "It is categorically untrue that anyone in Downing Street made the comments about the Conservative Party Associations and activists reported in the Times and the Telegraph. |
| "Lord Feldman has also issued a statement... categorically denying it was him. The prime minister supports Lord Feldman's position." | "Lord Feldman has also issued a statement... categorically denying it was him. The prime minister supports Lord Feldman's position." |
| The co-chairman's statement said: "There is speculation on the internet and on Twitter that the senior Conservative Party figure claimed to have made derogatory comments by the Times and the Telegraph is me. | The co-chairman's statement said: "There is speculation on the internet and on Twitter that the senior Conservative Party figure claimed to have made derogatory comments by the Times and the Telegraph is me. |
| "This is completely untrue. I would like to make it quite clear that I did not, nor have ever described our associations in this way or in any similar manner. I am taking legal advice." | "This is completely untrue. I would like to make it quite clear that I did not, nor have ever described our associations in this way or in any similar manner. I am taking legal advice." |
| Party activists had earlier expressed anger at the reports. Bob Woollard, chair of umbrella group Conservative Grassroots, told the BBC it was "absolute madness to criticise your own troops". | Party activists had earlier expressed anger at the reports. Bob Woollard, chair of umbrella group Conservative Grassroots, told the BBC it was "absolute madness to criticise your own troops". |
| "These comments are so arrogant and pompous as to be unbelievable," he said, adding that Mr Cameron should publicly distance himself from them. | "These comments are so arrogant and pompous as to be unbelievable," he said, adding that Mr Cameron should publicly distance himself from them. |
| Mr Woollard, the former chair of Wycombe Conservative Association, said he had "a lot of sympathy with what Nigel Farage said when UKIP were criticised similarly". | Mr Woollard, the former chair of Wycombe Conservative Association, said he had "a lot of sympathy with what Nigel Farage said when UKIP were criticised similarly". |
| In 2006, Mr Cameron described the UK Independence Party as "sort of a bunch of... fruit cakes and loonies and closet racists mostly". | In 2006, Mr Cameron described the UK Independence Party as "sort of a bunch of... fruit cakes and loonies and closet racists mostly". |
| Reacting to the latest reports, Mr Farage tweeted: "If you are a Conservative supporter who believes in UKIP ideas then your party hates you. Come and join us." | Reacting to the latest reports, Mr Farage tweeted: "If you are a Conservative supporter who believes in UKIP ideas then your party hates you. Come and join us." |
| Mr Cameron has said he wants the UK to stay in the EU but wants to change Britain's relationship with it, taking back some powers from Brussels. | Mr Cameron has said he wants the UK to stay in the EU but wants to change Britain's relationship with it, taking back some powers from Brussels. |
| However, 116 Conservative backbenchers supported this week's amendment to the Queen's Speech expressing regret over the lack of firm plans for a referendum. Although the motion was defeated, opponents called it a blow to the prime minister's authority. | However, 116 Conservative backbenchers supported this week's amendment to the Queen's Speech expressing regret over the lack of firm plans for a referendum. Although the motion was defeated, opponents called it a blow to the prime minister's authority. |
| 'Self-indulgence' | 'Self-indulgence' |
| In the wake of the vote, Mr Cameron then said his party would give full support to a private member's bill from Eurosceptic backbencher James Wharton outlining the terms of a referendum to be held by 2017. | In the wake of the vote, Mr Cameron then said his party would give full support to a private member's bill from Eurosceptic backbencher James Wharton outlining the terms of a referendum to be held by 2017. |
| The bill is likely to be opposed by Labour and the Liberal Democrats, who have accused their Tory coalition partners of "self-indulgence" and say the row could deter businesses from investing in the UK. | The bill is likely to be opposed by Labour and the Liberal Democrats, who have accused their Tory coalition partners of "self-indulgence" and say the row could deter businesses from investing in the UK. |
| Speaking to BBC Radio 5 live on Saturday morning, Mr Wharton described the comments as the result of a "lapse of judgement", saying they were "offensive and foolish". | Speaking to BBC Radio 5 live on Saturday morning, Mr Wharton described the comments as the result of a "lapse of judgement", saying they were "offensive and foolish". |
| "It's such a shallow and inaccurate assessment of what's going on," he said, adding that it did not reflect the reasons behind MPs' decisions to back the amendment. | "It's such a shallow and inaccurate assessment of what's going on," he said, adding that it did not reflect the reasons behind MPs' decisions to back the amendment. |
| Several Conservative MPs have spoken out in praise of constituency activists. Among them was Neil Carmichael, who told 5 live the reported comments "may well have been taken completely out of context". | Several Conservative MPs have spoken out in praise of constituency activists. Among them was Neil Carmichael, who told 5 live the reported comments "may well have been taken completely out of context". |
| Another Tory MP Tracey Crouch tweeted: "I wonder if this 'aide' has ever been a member of an association, delivered a single leaflet, packed an envelope or knocked on a door?" | Another Tory MP Tracey Crouch tweeted: "I wonder if this 'aide' has ever been a member of an association, delivered a single leaflet, packed an envelope or knocked on a door?" |