EU are useless

£5m Tory donor slams Cam and gives UKIP £100k

SLAMMED: David Cameron

By Ian Kirby, 28/03/2009

THE Tories' top donor last night blasted David Cameron and sensationally defected to the euro-sceptic UK Independence Party.

In a humiliating body blow, spread-betting millionaire Stuart Wheeler wrote a cheque for £100,000 to UKIP.

And he said he will be voting for them in the June Euro elections. He told the News of the World Brussels is a bigger threat to Britain than the economic crisis and he is fed up with leader Cameron's decision to ignore it.

He said: "The EU is doing so much damage to our economy and way of life that I can no longer vote Conservative at the European elections.

"The Conservatives, though perhaps more eurosceptic than Labour, just wish no one would talk about the EU so that they can win the general election in peace."

In 2000 Mr Wheeler gave the Tories £5million, their biggest single donation. He has continued to back them since, but has become increasingly angry at Mr Cameron.

He now says he has serious doubts that the Tory leader will carry out his promise to hold a referendum on the EU Constitutional Treaty.

And he thinks British voters still believe Britain's future in Europe is a major issue.

Mr Wheeler added: "My doubts about his commitment to doing anything effective were increased this week when I was told that he had got 70 Conservative MPs together and told them the EU issue did not matter!

"It fits in with what a great many people believe to be his attitude. He simply must stick to the commitment he gave."

Incompetent

Mr Wheeler said he was backing UKIP because their position was clear, and warned the Tories they are missing votes because they are down-playing Europe.

He said: "The public know that the EU is incompetent, ineffective, hidebound and riven with fraud but the current political class in Westminster don't want to talk about it.

"I believe millions of people want a say and by voting UKIP they can be heard."

Mr Wheeler's decision has prompted Mr Cameron to expel one of his biggest financial backers 15 months before a possible General Election.

The millionaire says he plans to remain a Tory party member and to vote for them in the June local elections, held on the same day as the EU vote.

But party officials said that they would make an example of Mr Wheeler in order to make clear that policy would not be dictated by a handful of wealthy backers.

His expulsion - for his support of another party - will formally be announced after a meeting this week of the Conservative board, convened by Eric Pickles, the Tory chairman.

Nigel Farage, UKIP leader, said he was "thrilled" to gain Mr Wheeler's support. A Tory spokesman said: "Our policies on Europe are robust and we're committed to a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty.

"Conservative policy on Europe - as on other matters - is decided by David Cameron and his Shadow Cabinet and not by any donors."

But last night Labour MPs predicted Mr Wheeler's defection would be first of many.

Government whip John Spellar said: "The careful facade is starting to crumble.

"Cameron has been trying to ride two horses, the left and right wings of his party. Now he has been found out."

Stick to pledge

By Stuart Wheeler

IN 2001 I gave to the Conservatives the biggest donation they had ever received and I continue to remain a regular supporter.

Yet I shall vote UKIP in the European elections on June 4 and I have just given them a decent donation. Why?

ATTACK: Tory donor Wheeler

The answer is simple.

The EU is a disaster, even worse than the recession because the recession will end some time but the EU may not.

I want voters to send a clear message about the massive harm our membership is doing to us.

On Wednesday Gordon Brown spoke of a Europe of peace and unity which would rank among the finest achievements of human history! The Conservatives just wish no one would talk about the EU so they can win the general election in peace.

This country has not been successfully invaded since William the Conqueror in 1066, yet most of our laws are now made in Brussels by unelected commissioners, who impoverish the people of the EU, while making fortunes themselves.

At the same time the Hungarians threaten that five million unemployed migrants will head West unless we bail them out. How much do they want? About £160 billion!

The EU costs about £1,000 per annum for every man, woman, child and baby in this country.

How can this conceivably be worth it? What are the colossal benefits?

In 2007 David Cameron wrote: "Today I will give this cast-iron guarantee: If I become PM a Conservative government will hold a referendum on any EU treaty that emerges from these negotiations . . . "

He simply must stick to the commitment he gave.

Your comments

This article has 39 comments

Wonderful news about stuart wheeler and his financial support for ukip.

By j.a.wheatley. Posted April 8 2009 at 5:36 PM.

The good news about Mr Wheeler gives us a bit more power to our elbow. Might just encourage more to come over to UKIP - fingers crossed!

By mary ball. Posted April 7 2009 at 8:20 PM.

Stuart Wheeler is a national treasure. Thank you Stuart for all you have done

By marycurran. Posted March 31 2009 at 8:48 PM.

I am a UKIP supporter because this is the only party that tells you the truth about the discredited EU.

By Mick. Posted March 30 2009 at 7:41 PM.

Dave,

Don't fall into the trap it is not 'Europe' that people are against it is the EU. Europe is a collection of nations the EU is a Communist style collective run, by a bunch of well,Communists really.

By Number 6. Posted March 30 2009 at 12:42 PM.

At last a person who has the courage to speak out about how corrupt the EU really is and how it is damaging our country. To hear someone speak up for Britain like this is really refreshing.

Thank you Mr Wheeler for your support.

Sid Piggott

By Sid Piggott. Posted March 30 2009 at 9:57 AM.

I would like to know the outcome of Mr. Wheeler's courtcase. Well done by the way. I have been a Labour/ Co-op party Member plus a Trade Union Officer PLUS almost being elected a Labour City Councillor, so for someone like me to see the need for change--begs a question.

By george. Posted March 29 2009 at 8:32 PM.

Thank-you Mr. Wheeler...

If youv'e got any more spare dosh, it would be even better!

LIBLABCON = Common Purpose.

UKIP = Common Sense.

By Natalie Drest. Posted March 29 2009 at 8:04 PM.

get the EUSSR and the LibLabCon alliance off our backs. We can not allow the vermin in Parliament to give our country away. Thankyou Stuart.
We have to stop the Lisbon Treaty, a big vote for UKIP in June is not enough. get stickers on your cars saying GB out. Let people see where you stand. Talk to your local traitor (MP).Time for action.

By adams. Posted March 29 2009 at 6:30 PM.

Thank you Mr.Wheeler, UKIP.are the only political party with the true beliefs in the interests of our once great country.The E.U. is a self seeking powerhouse only interested in creating wealth for the people employed within it.So much waste and corruption between Brussels and Strasbourg which we pay for.Britain needs a United Kingdom Independence Party government,free from the dictates and expense of the E.U.

By David Haresign. Posted March 29 2009 at 5:56 PM.

This is the best news for the future of this country in a long time. Stuart Wheeler is telling it straight about the harm done to this country by EU membership.

By David Scott. Posted March 29 2009 at 5:46 PM.

May I add my thanks to Mr Wheeler for his gift and better still his encouragement at this crucial time. I like many others spend many hours walking the streets delivering the Anti E.U.message to thousands of homes. We do not have much money to give but we do love our country and that it why his excellant gift is so encouraging to the foot soldiers on the ground as it were.

Laurie James.

By Laurie. Posted March 29 2009 at 4:44 PM.

what i find intresting about all this is that if ukip, the bup and other anti eu MEPs amount to grater than 50% of the total Brown will lose all credability haveing lost his comand of britans vice in the eu parliment and i am starting to think that this is very near possible

Good Luck to ukip

By Graham Duffen. Posted March 29 2009 at 4:18 PM.

Amazing! You are simply the best

By Elizabeth. Posted March 29 2009 at 1:44 PM.

comes to a point where the only parties that haven't lied to us or stolen from us is the raving loonie party and bnp .

By paul. Posted March 29 2009 at 11:01 AM.

Good man, I have voted UKIP for years and hopefully our voice will be heard louder and louder over the coming months. The EU and its sock puppets in Westminster Tory/Lib/Lab are driving this country into the dirt.

Any organisation that has Mandy and the vile Kinnocks sucking up money from us has no place dictating our laws!

By Number 6. Posted March 29 2009 at 10:41 AM.

Use the EU Parliament elections as the Referendum on Lisbon you were denied. Vote for a Pro-British Party-remember what they are? They are those that want a British Government to actually Govern and not just take EU orders like the rest of us. This is what President Baroros fears. I would like his fears to become reality. Even if you have never voted in EU elections before, do this time and make you vote count. Thank you Stuart Wheeler for putting your Country first.

By Anne. Posted March 29 2009 at 8:56 AM.

The choice at the next General Election is clear, a vote for the Eurpean Liberal/Labour/Conservative/SNP Party or a British vote for the reasonable UKIP.

By Don Gatt. Posted March 29 2009 at 3:20 AM.

Thank you so much Mr Wheeler for your wonderful gift to UKIP. So many ordinary people like myself work hard for UKIP because they are the party to bring Britain out of the EU. I debate for UKIP on the Internet. I am absolutely delighted to know too that you will vote for UKIP in the European Elections. Well done.

By Frances A Fox. Posted March 28 2009 at 11:19 PM.

The EU really is the biggest problem Britain faces at the minute, we shouldn't be governed and ruled by Europe. If your average Joe knew the truth about it all, UKIP would be in power at the next general election.

Well done to Mr. Wheeler! I too will be joining him in voting UKIP.

By Jamie. Posted March 28 2009 at 9:36 PM.

UKIP are a bunch of saddos.
Voting for them is a vote for Brown

Which is why publicity hungry Wheeler says he will vote Conservative in Local and General Elections.

Hardly a defection although Tories may expel him.

By TrevorsDen. Posted March 28 2009 at 9:29 PM.

Common Sense at last ! With the three main parties, Lib-Lab-Con.... Common Sense has long ceased to be a criteria for self determination and preservation of our Sovereignty!

By Adrian Blake. Posted March 28 2009 at 10:44 PM.

It's the best news for British people.The EU is turning us into a region of the European state.
Good luck to UKIP.

By Denis Crawford. Posted March 28 2009 at 10:28 PM.

It is truly wonderful news that someone of this calibre has finally decided to give a substantial donation to UKIP.

UKIP is a very small but very rapidly growing party and although I live in Northern Ireland, where the party typically don't field any candidates at elections, I am however proud to be a member of it.

When you see someone like Stuart Wheeler turning round and leaning his weight to the party it just goes to show which direction the country is going in. Unlike the other parties UKIP has vision and purpose and they don't attempt to patronise and deceive people. The Tories have been a spent force ever since they got rid of Maggie Thatcher, and that's a long time ago now.

By Richard S Nicholl. Posted March 28 2009 at 10:23 PM.

Well done to Stuart Wheeler. I remember his court case to try and enforce a referendum. It is a scandal that none of the three main parties are prepared to stand up to the EU and all want to hand over yet more power to this corrupt and undemocratic body without letting the electorate have any say in the matter.

What is the point of having these three main parties if they all have the same policy of ignoring the electorate and handing our country over to the EU without any democratic mandate?

By Simon. Posted March 28 2009 at 11:02 PM.

The British people are waking up. No longer sleep walking into the EU. Escape from Freedom to the EU will be a nightmare!

By AdI. Posted March 28 2009 at 10:50 PM.

Absolutely delighted and light at last in this gloom of depression! Many thanks Mr. Wheeler. Can we look for more support from the Daily Telegraph too in the near future?

By David Bushby. Posted March 28 2009 at 10:48 PM.

Amazing, I hope that UKIP govern our government someday. They are the only ones who don't have their heads in the clouds and speak common sense.

By Ronald Minogue. Posted March 28 2009 at 7:51 PM.

Well done Mr. Wheeler.

A man who puts principles before party.
When will Mr. Cameron give us the In/Out referendum that we have been denied so long. Even the pro-EU LibDems have promised one for their manifesto. Mr. Cameron is behaving like Brer Rabbit "Lie low an' say nuffin".

By Ray Finch. Posted March 28 2009 at 7:50 PM.

What fantastic news!

You are doing the right thing Stuart; the Tories were finished the day they knifed Maggie in the back - and that was over 18 years ago!

The three main parties have had their day. And so has the E.U.

By Steve. Posted March 28 2009 at 7:47 PM.

Excellent news! Bravo Mr Wheeler, you aren't the only one who will be voting UKIP thids June!

By Michael M. Posted March 28 2009 at 7:45 PM.

Good on Mr. Wheeler. I have never had faith in Cameron being strong enough to actually denounce the EU. He is of course too beholden to the many Tory business men supporters who are with the EU for their own business and financial interests

By Brian Kelly. Posted March 28 2009 at 8:10 PM.

Well done!

The British public will finally have their say on June 4th.

Let's withdraw from the EU's 4th Reich.

By Kris. Posted March 28 2009 at 8:04 PM.

Big loss to the Conservative movement. I admire Stuart for his support and principles on this issue.

As for me, UKIP has my vote in the Euro elections in June 2009.

I know Cameron is right not to "bang on" about Europe in the midst of a near economic depression, but the Euro elections allow a limited time period to outline his position on Lisbon ratification. A post ratification referendum commitment from Cameron and I'll vote Tory again. After that David can go back to mainstream issues.

Europe has to be dealt with a some point and the majority of the public clearly want a different form of relationship from Europe, all the recent surveys show it. Frank Field is also another key ally in this battle.

It's not xenophobia folks, its called being anti -fedaralist and pro democracy.

By Yorkshireman, Yorkshire. Posted March 28 2009 at 7:58 PM.

Aleast Stuart puts Britain first unlike the three main parties!.

By Steve. Posted March 28 2009 at 8:21 PM.

YAHOO! Cue for a song?
"My dreams are getting better all the time"

By DAVE GRYLLS. Posted March 28 2009 at 8:16 PM.

Just goes to show that the Tories remain totally split from top to bottom over Europe!

By Jon. Posted March 28 2009 at 6:27 PM.

The Man of the moment. We salute you sir!

By Josh O'Nyons. Posted March 28 2009 at 6:39 PM.

Fantastic!

By Greg. Posted March 28 2009 at 4:47 PM.

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