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Tory 'loons' slur: MP David Davies denies party rift | Tory 'loons' slur: MP David Davies denies party rift |
(35 minutes later) | |
Monmouth MP David Davies has denied a Tory party rift amid claims someone close to the prime minister branded activists "mad, swivel-eyed loons". | |
Reports claim the term was coined at a party event when blaming them for urging MPs to amend the Queen's Speech. | Reports claim the term was coined at a party event when blaming them for urging MPs to amend the Queen's Speech. |
Mr Davies was among those who backed an amendment criticising the speech for not pledging an EU referendum. | Mr Davies was among those who backed an amendment criticising the speech for not pledging an EU referendum. |
He described the furore as "part of the life of politics" but warned the party not to ignore grassroots views. | He described the furore as "part of the life of politics" but warned the party not to ignore grassroots views. |
Mr Davies said he was cautious about accepting the accuracy of comments reported in the media without attributing the source. | Mr Davies said he was cautious about accepting the accuracy of comments reported in the media without attributing the source. |
However, given his opposition on the vote on same sex marriage and support for a referendum on Europe, he said he would put himself into the "swivel eyed-loon, fruit cake" category. | |
Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, Mr Davies said: "It was the mad, swivel-eyed loons who were warning 10 or 12 years ago that the euro would be a complete disaster, that it would be impossible to have one interest rate for the whole European area, and the whole thing would be doomed to fall apart in a rather messy way. | Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, Mr Davies said: "It was the mad, swivel-eyed loons who were warning 10 or 12 years ago that the euro would be a complete disaster, that it would be impossible to have one interest rate for the whole European area, and the whole thing would be doomed to fall apart in a rather messy way. |
"And I'm sorry to have to say it bluntly, but we were all right. | "And I'm sorry to have to say it bluntly, but we were all right. |
"So 'mad, swivel-eyed loons' that we have been called and 'fruit cakes' which I have been called, we have been right before and people will recognise that." | "So 'mad, swivel-eyed loons' that we have been called and 'fruit cakes' which I have been called, we have been right before and people will recognise that." |
'We are not at war' | 'We are not at war' |
Despite the headlines, Mr Davies played down speculation of a widening gap between the Conservative party leadership and constituency associations made up of local party members. | Despite the headlines, Mr Davies played down speculation of a widening gap between the Conservative party leadership and constituency associations made up of local party members. |
"There have always been these differences passionately put across because that's the way we do things," he said. | "There have always been these differences passionately put across because that's the way we do things," he said. |
"A lot of these things are overblown - we are not at war with each other, we beg to differ. | "A lot of these things are overblown - we are not at war with each other, we beg to differ. |
"Then I open up the papers and I read the whole Conservative party is at war with each other. It's absolute rubbish." | "Then I open up the papers and I read the whole Conservative party is at war with each other. It's absolute rubbish." |
He added: "What you have got here is one anonymous person allegedly saying something else to a journalist. | He added: "What you have got here is one anonymous person allegedly saying something else to a journalist. |
"We don't know who this person was or even if he exists. The party is not going to fall apart over this. | "We don't know who this person was or even if he exists. The party is not going to fall apart over this. |
"I suppose I put myself firmly into the 'swivel-eyed loon, fruit cake' category in an ironic sort of way because I know who those insults were aimed at and it's definitely me." | "I suppose I put myself firmly into the 'swivel-eyed loon, fruit cake' category in an ironic sort of way because I know who those insults were aimed at and it's definitely me." |
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