UP to 600 Tory activists will flock to “a premier Bournemouth venue with ample parking” to hear from a host of Boris Johnson loyalists at the Conservative Democratic Organisation (CDO) conference this weekend.
This comes as furious Conservative MPs have threatened to oust Rishi Sunak as Prime Minister following his “betrayal” over plans to scrap thousands of pieces of EU legislation.
Apparently, “very important guests” will be in attendance, as will “like-minded patriots who, like you, want to save our party and our country", according to the website.
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These guests include MPs Nadine Dorries, Priti Patel and Jacob Rees-Mogg. Former Thatcher aide Nile Gardner will also make an appearance, as will GB News’s Dan Wootton – who has been lined up to interview Patel on stage in the afternoon.
Organisers told Politico Playbook – which described it as a "festival of Boris" – that they remain hopeful Johnson might turn up, despite a spokesperson saying he wouldn’t.
They also said he has been “very supportive”, even signing eight bottles of wine for the auction when they’d only asked for one.
The former Prime Minister will be missing out on Jenkyns — a trained opera singer — kicking things off at 11 a.m. with a rendition of “God Save the King” and then performing the national anthem again in the evening.
After the “Take Control” daytime conference, organisers have invited attendees and speakers to then “lose control” on the dance floor with live music from Britain’s Got Talent stars, The Soldiers of Swing.
There will also be an auction, and Playbook detailed the list of prizes – many of which are bottles of alcohol. Arsenal season tickets are also up for grabs, as is a round of golf with former Tory treasurer Baron Cruddas at the Wentworth Club.
If that wasn’t enough, there is also the possibility of lunch with Jacob Rees-Mogg, six boxed silver plate teaspoons with Thatcher’s face on them or Harrods Champagne and truffles signed by Patel, Rees-Mogg and Dorries.
Claire Bullivant, chief executive of the CDO, said: “The people have spoken and it’s time for the grassroots and members to be listened to. Without our members we are nothing and we must value them and make our party more accountable to them … We’re ready to take control.”
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