Top minister warns Tories could be 'hijacked' by extremists

Emilio Casalicchio

A top Conservative minister has raised fears the party could be “hijacked” by political extremists after a call for hard-Brexiteers to sign up.



Justice Minister Dr Philip Lee said he would not “stand idly by” and let entryists “sink” the party as he called on the “silent majority” to rise up.

His comments came after a former senior Ukip member urged his ex-party colleagues to follow him in defecting to the Tories to secure a hard Brexit.

Peter Harris - a former regional Ukip organiser for London - said he had been inspired by Jacob Rees-Mogg and other prominent Brexit supporters to return to the Tory fold.

But Dr Lee took to Twitter to warn: “I don’t want our party to be hijacked by people on the extreme as Labour has been.”

He added: “If political extremists take over, we can’t represent the vast majority of decent, tolerant people - the pioneering innovators & visionaries who built our great country.

“I won’t stand idly by. We must fight to be again the Party I’ve supported for 25+ yrs.”

We’re seeing dangerous political polarisation which - if the silent majority doesn’t act - will sink our great country (& Party). Very worrying for true @Conservatives. I don’t want our Party to be hijacked by people on the extreme as @Labour has been. https://t.co/fmRs01HOiH — Dr Phillip Lee MP (@DrPhillipLeeMP) February 17, 2018

But our democracy depends on people taking part and @Conservatives need more members. If political extremists take over, we can’t represent the vast majority of decent, tolerant people - the pioneering innovators & visionaries who built our great country. I won’t stand idly by. — Dr Phillip Lee MP (@DrPhillipLeeMP) February 17, 2018

We must fight to be again the Party I’ve supported for 25+ yrs - the Party that helps people get on in life; values hard work, community, creativity and compassion; has a pioneering vision for our country & the ability in Govt to achieve it. Please join us https://t.co/JJHCHzDWkr — Dr Phillip Lee MP (@DrPhillipLeeMP) February 17, 2018

Moderate Tory MPs have already discussed the possibility of forming a breakaway party if a hard Brexiteer like Mr Rees-Mogg succeeds Theresa May as leader.

One Tory minister said last month that it "could be all over" for his party if it lurches to the right when the Prime Minister stands down.