Tories 'running scared' as they bar anti-Brexit chief from party conference

Tory chiefs have been accused of “running scared” after barring the head of an anti-Brexit group from their party conference.

The chief executive of Best for Britain – a cross-party group whose supporters include Conservative MPs – hit out after her application to attend the four-day jamboree was denied.

Hundreds of lobbyists for private industry, from fast food to the arms trade, will attend the event in Manchester in four weeks’ time alongside MPs, journalists and PM Boris Johnson .

But second referendum campaigner Naomi Smith was told her application had been denied, with no reason given, in an e-mail from Tory HQ two weeks ago.

Ms Smith was told her fee would be refunded for the glitzy event, where passes cost up to £995.

It appears to be a repeat of events last year, when her predecessor as chief executive was barred entry along with other anti-Brexit campaigners.

Ms Smith told the Mirror: “It appears this administration is running scared of debate.

“We’ve been barred from voicing widely held concerns about no-deal, Parliament has been shut down, and an unelected advisor to the Prime Minister is on a sacking spree targeting anyone who disagrees with him.

“The loss of important moderate Conservatives like Ruth Davidson shows this administration needs to change tack or face becoming a fringe party of extreme Brexit zealots.”

Best For Britain – whose goal is to “find a democratic way to stop Brexit” – primarily quotes Labour , Lib Dem and other opposition MPs but it has won support from anti-no-deal Tories.

An open letter from the group was signed by Tory MPs Antoniette Sandbach and Guto Bebb, while other supporters have included Phillip Lee, Dominic Grieve, Sam Gyimah and Justine Greening.

A source in the group said when campaigners queried the ban, Tory officials claimed it could have caused “mischief”. The source added: “We just wanted to put our anti-no deal arguments up at conference.”

Former Deloitte employee Ms Smith joined Best For Britain from the business lobby group London First last year.

She became chief executive earlier this summer after her predecessor Eloise Todd attempted to become a Labour MEP.

The 2017 Tory conference saw comedian Simon Brodkin – aka Lee Nelson – hand Theresa May a P45 during her keynote speech after obtaining a security pass.

A Tory spokesman said: “Attendance to the Conservative Party conference is at the discretion of the Conservative Party.”