In a discreet move earlier this month, the Conservative Party restored the whip to former Deputy Prime Minister Lord Michael Heseltine.
This development comes after a five-year suspension that began in May 2019, following Lord Heseltine’s announcement that he would vote for the Liberal Democrats in the European elections.
The reinstatement was confirmed through public records, marking the end of a significant chapter in Lord Heseltine’s long political career.
The Conservative Party had previously suspended the whip for 21 MPs in September 2019. These MPs had rebelled against the government in a decisive move to prevent a no-deal Brexit.
The rebellion inflicted a notable defeat on then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s government by enabling a vote that overrode a Commons rule that limits new law proposals to the government.
A month after this rebellion, the Conservative Party reinstated the whip to 10 of the suspended MPs, including notable figures such as Caroline Nokes, MP for Romsey and Southampton North, former Culture Secretary Lord Ed Vaizey, Sir Nicholas Soames, Greg Clark, and Stephen Hammond.
However, 11 others, including former Justice Secretary David Gauke, remained excluded from the party.
Mr. Gauke subsequently lost his seat in the 2019 general election after running as an independent candidate. He rejoined the Conservative Party last Wednesday, July 24.
Former Chancellor Ken Clarke also returned to the Conservative fold in September 2020, following his elevation to the peerage. Clarke had stepped down at the 2019 general election.
At the time of Lord Heseltine’s suspension, a Conservative Party spokesperson stated that “publicly endorsing the candidates of another party is not compatible” with taking the whip.
They mentioned that the decision would be reconsidered if Lord Heseltine was “willing to support Conservative candidates at future elections.”
The spokesperson also acknowledged his “half a century of service,” noting his “longstanding and sincerely held views on Europe.”
Brexit Stance Sparks Tory Turmoil
Lord Heseltine, a pro-European advocate since his early political career, joined the Conservative Party in 1951 and was elected as the MP for Tavistock in 1965. His suspension stemmed from his vocal opposition to the Conservative Party’s Brexit stance.
In a published article, Lord Heseltine explained his decision to vote for the Liberal Democrats in the European elections, stating: “I cannot, with a clear conscience, vote for my party when it is myopically focused on forcing through the biggest act of economic self-harm ever undertaken by a democratic government.”
In a pre-suspension interview, Lord Heseltine emphasized the significance of the Brexit issue.
“[Brexit] is the biggest issue of our time. This is a betrayal of national self-interest. This is a betrayal of the younger generation, who are passionately opposed to taking them out of the center of world politics.
“Am I supposed to sneak away round the corner or do I do what I believe – if you’re in public life – you ought to do, which is stand up and be counted? And, on this issue, the transcending issue of our times, I need to stand up and be counted.”
Lord Heseltine
Lord Heseltine’s restoration to the Conservative fold coincides with a tumultuous period within the party, as it grapples with selecting a new leader following its defeat in the general election.
Kemi Badenoch, the Shadow Housing and Communities Secretary, has entered the Conservative leadership race with a commitment to returning the party to power by 2030.
Badenoch, currently the bookmakers’ favorite to succeed Rishi Sunak, has articulated a vision centered on renewing the Conservative brand.
She emphasized the need for the government to prioritize serving its citizens and reinforcing the nation-state.
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