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Jeremy Hunt backs Lord Feldman in 'swivel-eyed loons' row Jeremy Hunt backs Lord Feldman in 'swivel-eyed loons' row
(4 months later)
Jeremy Hunt, the health secretary, has offered strong support for the Conservative co-chairman Lord Feldman, who is fighting allegations that he made disparaging remarks about Tory activists.Jeremy Hunt, the health secretary, has offered strong support for the Conservative co-chairman Lord Feldman, who is fighting allegations that he made disparaging remarks about Tory activists.
Speaking on The Andrew Marr Show on BBC1, Hunt praised Feldman as a man of great honour, adding that grassroots Tory activists reflect the views of the vast majority of British people.Speaking on The Andrew Marr Show on BBC1, Hunt praised Feldman as a man of great honour, adding that grassroots Tory activists reflect the views of the vast majority of British people.
Feldman issued a categorical denial on Saturday that he had described grassroots Tory activists as "swivel-eyed loons".Feldman issued a categorical denial on Saturday that he had described grassroots Tory activists as "swivel-eyed loons".
The Times and Daily Telegraph reported an unnamed senior Tory as saying that Conservative MPs face pressure over Europe from their local associations. The Tory made the alleged remarks after being asked about the decision of 116 Tory MPs to defy the prime minister and vote in favour of an amendment regretting the absence of a EU referendum in the Queen's speech.The Times and Daily Telegraph reported an unnamed senior Tory as saying that Conservative MPs face pressure over Europe from their local associations. The Tory made the alleged remarks after being asked about the decision of 116 Tory MPs to defy the prime minister and vote in favour of an amendment regretting the absence of a EU referendum in the Queen's speech.
The newspapers quoted a senior member of the prime minister's inner circle as saying: "It's fine. There's really no problem. The MPs just have to do it because the associations tell them to, and the associations are all mad, swivel-eyed loons."The newspapers quoted a senior member of the prime minister's inner circle as saying: "It's fine. There's really no problem. The MPs just have to do it because the associations tell them to, and the associations are all mad, swivel-eyed loons."
Hunt was asked whether he believed Feldman had made the remarks. He said: "No I don't. The person who is alleged to have said that has denied it and I know the individual and I trust him. He is a man of great honour."Hunt was asked whether he believed Feldman had made the remarks. He said: "No I don't. The person who is alleged to have said that has denied it and I know the individual and I trust him. He is a man of great honour."
The Mail on Sunday reported that the use of the words "swivel-eyed" reflected the views of the prime minister. A recent profile of Cameron in the Financial Times, in which the newspaper was briefed by senior Tories, reported a well-placed Conservative as saying that the prime minister described people who repeatedly ask him about Europe as swivel-eyed.The Mail on Sunday reported that the use of the words "swivel-eyed" reflected the views of the prime minister. A recent profile of Cameron in the Financial Times, in which the newspaper was briefed by senior Tories, reported a well-placed Conservative as saying that the prime minister described people who repeatedly ask him about Europe as swivel-eyed.
Hunt was asked whether that reflected Cameron's views. He said: "It certainly doesn't reflect the views of the prime minister. If you look at this prime minister so much of what he has done has been informed by the views and the opinions of hardworking grassroots Conservative campaigners whose views, incidentally, are in very much in tune with the vast majority of the British people.Hunt was asked whether that reflected Cameron's views. He said: "It certainly doesn't reflect the views of the prime minister. If you look at this prime minister so much of what he has done has been informed by the views and the opinions of hardworking grassroots Conservative campaigners whose views, incidentally, are in very much in tune with the vast majority of the British people.
"They are the ones who said we have got to do something about immigration and Theresa May has cut immigration by a third. They are the ones who said we have got to reward hard work and get rid of this something-for-nothing culture and we have introduced a benefits cap … the views of those people are incredibly important to the DNA of the policies that we are putting into place.""They are the ones who said we have got to do something about immigration and Theresa May has cut immigration by a third. They are the ones who said we have got to reward hard work and get rid of this something-for-nothing culture and we have introduced a benefits cap … the views of those people are incredibly important to the DNA of the policies that we are putting into place."
Feldman said on Saturday: "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.Feldman said on Saturday: "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.
"Nor do these alleged comments represent my view of our activists. On the contrary, in the last eight years of working for the party, I have found them to be hardworking, committed and reasonable people. They are without question the backbone of the party. I am very disappointed by the behaviour of the journalists involved, who have allowed rumour and innuendo to take hold by not putting these allegations to me before publication. I am taking legal advice.""Nor do these alleged comments represent my view of our activists. On the contrary, in the last eight years of working for the party, I have found them to be hardworking, committed and reasonable people. They are without question the backbone of the party. I am very disappointed by the behaviour of the journalists involved, who have allowed rumour and innuendo to take hold by not putting these allegations to me before publication. I am taking legal advice."
The newspapers are standing by their story. The Conservative party acknowledges that Feldman talked to some journalists at the Intercontinental Hotel in Westminster on Wednesday night when he popped out of a dinner hosted by the Conservative Friends of Pakistan. The journalists were eating in the hotel's restaurant. But Feldman strenuously denies having made the remarks attributed to a senior unnamed Tory by the newspapers.The newspapers are standing by their story. The Conservative party acknowledges that Feldman talked to some journalists at the Intercontinental Hotel in Westminster on Wednesday night when he popped out of a dinner hosted by the Conservative Friends of Pakistan. The journalists were eating in the hotel's restaurant. But Feldman strenuously denies having made the remarks attributed to a senior unnamed Tory by the newspapers.
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