TWO giants of the right and left of the Conservative Party slugged it out yesterday - presenting two different visions of Britain's role in Europe.
As the conference was still reeling from suggestions by former chancellor Norman Lamont that Britain might pull out of the European Union (EU) altogether, both Michael Heseltine for the left and Michael Portillo for the right displayed the division which still grips the Cabinet.
Mr Heseltine, President of the Board of Trade, rose amid high expectations to deliver his first conference speech since his heart attack.
He went out of his way to reject Mr Lamont's view saying Europe was 'the true manifestation of where Britain's self-interest lies and to contemplate leaving this behind, turning our backs or simply opting out would be the most abject surrender of national self-interest'.
He called on Britain to be 'at the heart of Europe' if it was to influence the way the EU developed.
Mr Portillo used his speech to reinforce his credentials as a Euro-sceptic.
But he attacked Labour leader Tony Blair for wanting to create a 'wasteland' with previous convictions 'cast away like empty beer cans'.
