Bow Group chairman Ben Harris-Quinney faces a patrons’ revolt

The Bow Group’s chairman Ben Harris-Quinney is not having a good day. Last night Bow Group patrons Michael Heseltine, Michael Howard, Norman Lamont and Nirj Deva MEP released a strongly-worded statement distancing themselves from the think-tank’s Ukip endorsement under Harris-Quinney’s leadership.

Now all of the Bow Group patrons, including Sir Gerald Howarth, Adam Afriyie and David Davis, have signed the statement:

‘As Patrons of the Bow Group we believe that this country’s best interests are served by voting Conservative in all situations. Ben Harris-Quinney does not speak for us or represent our views.’

Harris-Quinney’s troubles don’t stop there. He has just been grilled by Andrew Neil on the Daily Politics, where group patron Michael Heseltine also voiced his opposition to Harris-Quinney’s Ukip endorsement:

‘The Bow Group must have its own examination of how this guy, who is not a member of the Conservative Party, who is actively campaigning in a way that is incompatible with Conservative policy, has been able to produce this document.’