Sir Bill to speak at Tory 'Brexit conference'
Tory Brexiteers have dealt a hammer blow to Theresa May's hopes for unity by setting up a rival event to the Conservative Party conference.
The official party conference runs between September 30 and October 3 at Birmingham's ICC, and will feature speeches from Theresa May and her Cabinet, including Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson.
But prominent anti-EU Tory MPs including Sir Bill Cash have announced an 'alternative conference', which will take place Birmingham Midland Institute in Margaret Street from October 1-2.
Former Cabinet ministers Priti Patel, John Redwood and North Shropshire MP Owen Paterson will speak at the fringe event, along with Stone MP Sir Bill, Shrewsbury MP Daniel Kawczynski and former UKIP MEP Steven Woolfe, who has been blocked from joining the Conservatives.
Long time Eurosceptic Sir Bill, the chairman of the European Scrutiny Committee, is due to speak on October 1. He says he will 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," he said.
"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."
Head of the Bruges Group, Robert Oulds, which is one of the organisations behind the alternative event, 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."
The move has sparked fury among Tory Remainers, who told the Brexiteers to form their own party to go with their own conference.
Senior Conservative MP Nicky Morgan said: "For some time it has been apparent that the hard Brexiteers are a party within the Conservative Party.
"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."
