October 18, 2000, Wednesday

SECTION: HOME NEWS

LENGTH: 241 words

HEADLINE: WINNING MORE SEATS 'WOULD MAKE TORIES MORE
RIGHT WING'

BYLINE: Bob Roberts, Deputy Political Editor, PA News

BODY:
The Tories would lurch further to the right if they
won their target seats at the next election, Foreign
Secretary Robin Cook said tonight after new research
said many of their prospective candidates hold
Eurosceptic views.

According to research published in the European
Journal magazine, 46% of Conservative candidates in
170 of their target seats hold views on Europe which
are more sceptical than the party leadership.

The publication classifies 47.5% of the candidates as
supporting the party line of being "in Europe, not run
by Europe" and 6.5% are described as being Europhiles.
 

Speaking tonight, Mr Cook said: "This is clear
evidence that given the chance the Tory Party would
continue its lurch to the right after the next
election."

He added: "As Michael Heseltine has warned, the
'Britain out brigade' is taking over the Tory Party.
If elected the Tories would pose a very real threat to
our membership of the European Union.

"That would be a tragedy for Britain and the three
million British workers who depend on our trade with
Europe."

The European Journal is published by the European
Foundation run by arch Eurosceptic MP Bill Cash.

However, they also list several Conservative
frontbenchers as members of their advisory board.

Their article - entitled "No, No, No: Thatcher's
grandchildren reject the superstate" - is based on the
work of academic Dr Sean Gabb who tries to classify
candidates' views on Europe.

LOAD-DATE: October 19, 2000