A new political party was launched in London yesterday, with a pledge to fight the Conservative leader Mr William Hague's "suicidal" Euro-sceptic strategy. The Pro-Euro Conservative Party was founded by the MEP for Thames Valley, Mr John Stevens, and the MEP for Sussex South and Crawley, Mr Brendan Donnelly - both former Conservative MEPs.
The two left the party in protest when Mr Hague ruled out British membership of the Single European Currency for the next two parliaments.
At the launch in a central London hotel, Mr Stevens said the coming referendums on joining the euro zone "are about the future of the Conservative Party".
"We find it incredible that in five short years the party which was once emphatically a major force in British politics has become little more than a campaigning organisation for Euroscepticism. The time has come for pro-Europeans to take a stand against this suicidal process."
Commenting on the party's official registration, he asserted: "(The Registrar's) decision has wide symbolic and political implications. Up till now, the policies of William Hague have implied that Conservatives can only be anti-euro. Our successful registration proves that it is possible to be both a Conservative and in favour of the euro."
The launch coincided with reports that the MP for Henley, Mr Michael Heseltine, might stay on in parliament to fight for EMU membership. When asked whether Mr Heseltine would be welcome to join his party Mr Stevens said: "I would welcome anyone who would agree with our views . . ." The new party, which believes the UK should join the single currency as soon as possible, plans to put forward 84 candidates for the European elections on June 10th.