https://twitter.com/darrengrimes_/status/1088052582961086465
Michael Fabricant was on his feet championing the West Midlands economy at PMQs again – little did he know that right behind him fellow Tory MPs Kelly Tolhurst and Huw Merriman were making fun of his hair. No doubt fabulous Fabbers will take it in his stride…
Always keen to see an MP at the end of a rope, Guido popped down to the annual parliamentary Tug of War last night (all proceeds to Macmillan Cancer Support). Ladies first – Macmillan employees versus Therese Coffey’s team of MPs. Kelly Tolhurst chose the losing side again…
Then the men’s Lords v Commons bout, which saw well-built Remainiacs Alec Shelbrooke (his sixth tug of war appearance) trialling the phrase “Remain” instead of “Stay” as a rallying cry to team-mates. Though in the end it was the Leave heavers who made the difference – hardman captain Mike Penning and Eurosceptic musclemen Nigel Adams and David Burrowes tugged their team to victory. Even the Daily Politics’ Giles Dilnot turning out as a ringer for the Lords couldn’t stop them. Highlight was Bercow calling Shelbrooke “a very big bloke” – Shelbers replied “it’s all relative…”
Oh dear… according to Quentin Letts, newly converted Remain supporter Kelly Tolhurst personally told him she was a Brexiteer:
Tory MP Kelly Tolhurst's pro-Remain announcement is Javidesque. She personally told me she was pro-Leave. Dear oh dear.
— Quentin Letts (@thequentinletts) June 1, 2016
Kelly says she is “surprised” by Quentin’s tweet because she “only finally decided last week”. Oh really…
When she was fighting Mark Reckless in Rochester last year, Tolhurst included an anti-EU immigration pledge as one of the six pillars of her campaign, promising “action – not just talk”. She said she wanted the time from which EU migrants can claim benefits “extended to five years… immediately”. More than the PM achieved in his renegotiation. Now she says the renegotiation has secured the immigration changes she desired. What was that about “Action – not just talk”?
Back in 2012 she even supported Reckless’s campaign against the EU:
She campaigned and won her constituency as an avowed Eurosceptic. She told journalists she was a Leaver. What possibly could have changed Kelly’s mind?
Tory MP Kelly Tolhurst, who claimed to be a Eurosceptic worried about EU immigration in order to defeat UKIP’s Mark Reckless, has endorsed Remain:
“Having listened to the debate, looked at the facts, and spoken to prominent campaigners on both sides, I have now made my own decision that I will be voting to remain on the 23rd June. I believe that the risks to my country will be greater if we leave than if we remain part of the EU at this point in time.”
Careerist Kelly previously claimed to have personally complained to the PM about the impact of EU immigration on her constituency. This is a u-turn of Makian proportions. Expect UKIP to take full advantage…
