Surge in Tory members sparks fears of ‘grass roots rebellion’
‘A new leader can be swept to power and sanity can prevail,’ says right-wing businessman Arron Banks, one of many people unhappy with Conservative leader Theresa May’s handling of Brexit
As internal divisions over Brexit plague Britain’s ruling Conservative Party, it has had a recent surge in membership. The Tories have seen thousands of new members apply to join its ranks over summer, according to lawmakers and reports.
But this new-found popularity has not been welcomed by everyone.
“There clearly is a movement of people joining the Conservative Party but for exactly what purpose it’s impossible to say,” said Dominic Grieve, a pro-European MP.
In Grieve’s constituency in southeast England it has grown by around 100 people to 1,200 members in recent months – but he is suspicious about the motives of new members.
“I’m sure there’s a deselection agenda by some members of my association towards me,” he said. “The Conservative Party’s always been a broad church and tolerant of difference. But I’m afraid at the moment we’re going through a political crisis which is reducing tolerance.”