Given that the Bow Group are the oldest Conservative think tank and count Michael Howard, Norman Lamont and Peter Lilley among their former chairmen, it’s safe to presume that the Tories would have thought that they could rely on their endorsement for the election.
However, the Telegraph reported earlier today that the think tank, led by its colourful chairman Ben Harris-Quinney, have urged Conservatives to vote for Ukip in seats where the Tories can’t win. In fact Harris-Quinney appeared to go one step further by urging voters to opt for Ukip’s Mark Reckless in Rochester and Stroud. This is bizarre given that the Tories are hoping to win this seat back in the election.
Stranger still, the Ukip endorsement appears to have come as a surprise to Bow Group patrons Michael Heseltine, Michael Howard, Norman Lamont and Nirj Deva MEP, who have gone against Harris-Quinney and released a strongly-worded statement distancing themselves from the Ukip endorsement:
‘As Patrons of the Bow Group we believe that this country’s best interests are served by voting Conservative in all situations.
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