Two Shropshire MPs to address 'alternative Tory Party conference' over Brexit

Daniel Kawczynski and Owen Paterson, along with Sir Bill Cash, will address the meeting organised by eurosceptic think-tank the Bruges Group, which will be held just half a mile from the main conference at the Birmingham Midland Institute.

The event, on October 1, will be at the same time as the official conference which runs from September 30 to October 3, and features Prime Minister Theresa May's keynote address to the party.

Head of the Bruges Group, Robert Oulds, described the event as the 'alternative Conservative Party conference', saying that the official Conservative Party at Birmingham's International Convention Centre no longer represented Conservative thinking.

However, both Shrewsbury and Atcham MP Mr Kawczynski and Sir Bill, who lives near Bridgnorth, said they disagreed with that description of the event. Mr Paterson, the North Shropshire MP and former cabinet minister, said he was being completely loyal to his party's manifesto.

Mr Kawczynski said he planned to use the event to outline how he saw the future of Britain after Brexit.

"I'm rather confused, I don't agree with the way it has been reported," he said.

"To call it an alternative party conference is incorrect.

"I've just been invited to address the Bruges Group, and I intend to speak about my vision for the country out of the EU, and the challenges it faces."

Mr Oulds said: "The Conservative Party conference is no longer for Conservatives.

"There are no ideas, no role for grassroots members, no freedom of speech and nothing for those who believe in a full Brexit.

"The place for those who do believe in these values and ideas is now our alternative conference on Monday 1st October."

Mr Paterson said he would be using the event to explain his opposition to the Chequers deal put forward by the Prime Minister.

He said he was not aware the event had been billed as an alternative conference, and as far as he was concerned he was being totally loyal to the party.

"I will be talking about Brexit, about why the Chequers proposal is completely unworkable," said Mr Paterson.

"To quote the Australian former head of what is now the World Trade Organisation, Alan Oxley, it is unintelligible, incoherent and lays out no platform which any government could use in undertaking something as significant as withdrawal from the EU."

Mr Paterson said his appearance at the event should not be interpreted as an act of rebellion.

"All I'm trying to do is ensure that we stand by the pledge in the manifesto," he said.

Loyal

"The manifesto was very clear, that following the biggest vote in British history that we would leave the European Union.

"At the General Election both the Conservative and the Labour manifestos were very clear that leave means leave, and that we would leave the customs union and the European Court of Justice.

"As far as I'm concerned, I'm being completely loyal to the Conservative Party manifesto."

Veteran eurosceptic Sir Bill, chairman of the European scrutiny committee, is also due to speak. He said he would address the key Brexit issues and explain his opposition to Mrs May's much criticised Chequers proposals.

"The object of this event is to explain the considerable issues surrounding Brexit that are not being addressed by the Government," said the MP for Stone in Staffordshire.

"It is very important that people get to hear the views of politicians outside the Cabinet. I have made it very clear that what the Government is presenting gives far too many concessions to the EU and does not represent what 17.4 million people voted for in the EU referendum.

"The Chequers deal has caused a great deal of uncertainty and it is quite right that people are given the chance to hear different views on the matter."

Former Ukip leadership contender, Stephen Woolfe – who has been banned from joining the Conservative Party – is also expected to attend, along with former cabinet minister Priti Patel.

Former education secretary Nicky Morgan criticised the meeting.

"For some time it has been apparent that the hard Brexiteers are a party within the Conservative Party," she said.

"Now they want to have their own party conference. Perhaps this announcement means it's time for them to have their own party instead and leave the Conservatives to govern in the national interest."