Defection Undermines Eu Policy

Lord McAlpine, an outspoken critic of the cabinet, tells tonights BBCs Panorama programme that he has agreed to chair the Referendum partys first conference in two weeks time, and that he had confided to his close ally, Baroness Thatcher, about his change of allegiance.

I dont need any converting to the point of view of the Referendum party. I need converting back to the Conservative party because they dont seem to be very Conservative, Lord McAlpine says.

A close aide said Mr Major would be completely unfazed by criticism of his approach by either wing of the party this week. Major said it would be