Grassroots Conservatives attack party 'intolerance' after debate on fresh Brexit referendum is obstructed

'Do they really want to drive moderates out of the party entirely? Because we are not going anywhere, we will keep fighting'

Grassroots Tories pushing for a fresh Brexit referendum have attacked their party’s “intolerance”, after a conference debate on the campaign was obstructed.

The Conservatives have been accused of an “extraordinary” attempt to undermine discussion on the most crucial issue facing Britain, by refusing to allow a meeting to publicised.

In an interview with The Independent, the head of the group Conservatives for a People’s Vote said the stance was part of a shift to the right as Theresa May tried to carry out her form of Brexit.

And he made the explosive claim that the situation was similar to “what happened in the Labour party with Militant in the 1980s” – the benchmark for an attempt by extremists to take over a major party.

Simon Allison, the group’s chairman, said: “The party is going in the direction of intolerance and there is a clear move to shut down debate on the most important issue of the day.”

And he warned: “There is significant infiltration of the party from Ukip and pro-EU MPs are being threatened with deselection and face online trolling, which is not unlike what is happened in the Labour party with Militant in the 1980s.

“Do they really want to drive moderates out of the party entirely? Because we are not going anywhere, we will keep fighting.”

Mr Allison, a former Tory researcher and parliamentary candidate, spoke out after Conservatives for a People’s Vote was barred from publishing an entry in the official programme at the Birmingham conference.

The block was imposed despite planned speeches by a former cabinet minister, Justine Greening, and two other prominent Conservatives, Phillip Lee and Sarah Wollaston.

To add insult to injury, the group submitted a “non-refundable” payment of £360 when it sent in notice of the meeting for inclusion in the programme and on the website.

Dr Lee has written to Brandon Lewis, the Conservative party chairman, demanding to know why he “cannot support free speech” – but has not received a reply.

Mr Allison said: “We have seen, in parliament, the government’s unwillingness to allow a vote on Article 50 and the attempts to stop a meaningful vote by MPs at the end of the negotiations.

“Now there is this attempt to shut down debate on the biggest issue there is at the party conference, by not allowing our event to be included in the handbook or on the website – which is extraordinary.

“They don’t want delegates to go along and listen, yet – when it was party policy to remain in the EU – the hardline Brexiteers staged lots of fringe meetings which were advertised in the handbook.”

Conservatives for a People’s Vote is supported by four Tory MPs, two peers, two MEPs and – Mr Allison said – a growing number of Conservative councillors in a WhatsApp group.

The small businessman argued there was “too much focus on the activists” – who largely favour a hard Brexit – and too little on the very different views of Tory supporters.

Research showed there were 3-4m Conservatives who favoured staying in the EU, many of whom believed another referendum was the only way to resolve the Brexit deadlock.

“My impression from traditional Tory voters – those who are not hardline activists – is very different from many of the activists,” Mr Allison said.

“I hardly meet anyone who isn’t horrified by what is going on. The internal tensions are building up – and we believe momentum is on our side.”

The Independent has asked the Conservative party for a response to Mr Allison’s comments and to explain why the group’s event has not been listed.

* The fringe meeting will be held at 1pm on Monday 1 October, in the Wedgewood Suite of the Novotel Central hotel, in Broad Street, in Birmingham.