I won't beg to stay in Tory party, says donor

MILLIONAIRE Stuart Wheeler today said he would not beg David Cameron to let him remain a Tory member after he offered a donation to a rival party.

The spread betting tycoon, who once donated £5million to the Conservatives, was suspended from the party last night for saying he would give £100,000 to the UK Independence Party.

However, Mr Wheeler was defiant today, saying: "I don't think I will be begging to come back."

He also launched an attack on Mr Cameron's leadership style. "I think the leadership very much makes up its mind without regard to others, other than a few people at the very top. I think that more than half the shadow cabinet are more Eurosceptic than the leadership and would favour a tougher line on Europe."

Mr Wheeler has 28 days to appeal against his expulsion.

Senior Tories are believed to have concluded it was untenable for him to remain a member while supporting another party.

The tycoon - an arch Eurosceptic - announced at the weekend that he would be making the donation to Ukip and voting for the party at the European parliamentary elections in June after becoming disillusioned with Mr Cameron over Europe.

Mr Wheeler said he was disappointed at the decision, but would continue to vote for the Conservatives in the next set of local elections.