Defiant MPs play the race card
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A group of Tory MPs last night threatened to defy Cabinet appeals for party unity until polling day by issuing a West Midlands Tory manifesto to raise immigration and opposition to the European single currency as election issues.
Nicholas Budgen, a leading Tory Euro-sceptic, said the MPs were planning to meet this week formally to discuss issuing a joint election address highlighting the two policies, because "it will have more impact", although it is certain to cause fresh embarrassment for the Tory leadership.
Mr Budgen has been under pressure to drop his pursuit of the immigration issue since raising it at Prime Minister's Questions. John Major has been wooing the Asian vote, but the Tory campaign guide shows that all Tory candidates are fighting on a commitment to oppose Labour's proposals for liberalising the immigration laws.
Mr Budgen said: "Immigration is an issue, and what is an issue is not decided by spin doctors, or if I may diffidently suggest, even by the Prime Minister." On the single currency, he said: "The Cabinet hasn't made up its mind - we have."
Michael Portillo, Secretary of State for Defence, appealed on GMTV's Sunday Programme to Tory MPs not to rock the boat, saying individual campaigns like this would distract attention from the election campaign.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments