Flight sacked from Conservative party

Conservative leader Michael Howard has announced that the party whip is to be withdrawn from Howard Flight.

Michael Howard issued a statement, which said: "We will be totally straight with the British people. We will not say one thing in private and another thing in public. Everyone in my party has to sign up to that. If not, they're out. Howard Flight will not be a Conservative candidate at the next election."

Howard Flight had earlier resigned from his post as Conservative deputy chairman after comments he made regarding the party's spending plans were leaked to the press.

Remarks made by Mr Flight regarding the £35 billion planned spending cuts during a meeting of the Thatcherite Conservative Way Forward Group, were captured on tape.

The tape was reportedly obtained by the Times newspaper who presented the Conservatives with a transcript for Mr Flight's remarks.

During the meeting, Mr Flight reportedly suggested that the real scale of the planned spending counts was being concealed. He said: "The potential for getting better taxpayer value is a good bit greater than the James findings (which have been) 'sieved' for what is politically acceptable and what is not going to lose the main argument."

The Arundel and South Downs MP also seemed to hint at further cuts if the Conservatives were to win at the next General Election, which is expected to be on May 5. He said that if the Conservatives won the election, they could "actually get on with what needs to be done".

Mr Flight had been involved in establishing the James Review into public spending, which identified the £35 billion of savings, which has become one of the Conservatives' main policies.

Mr Flight has apologised for his remarks, saying "I regret my choice of words, which do not accurately reflect the process of the James Committee".

Mr Howard said: "There is only one spending plan, and that is the one we have published. And our plan is very clear and fully costed."

Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Paul Boateng told the Times that Mr Flight had "let the cat out of the bag" over the Conservatives spending plans. He said: "Howard Flight has told the truth about their continuing agenda for cuts, admitting they would have to win the election before they tell the truth about their cuts plans."

(KmcA)