The "old brigade" Tories who have attacked the party's European policy, which rules out membership of EMU for at least the next 10 years, should consider leaving the party to join Labour or the Liberal Democrats, according to Sir Teddy Taylor.
The suggestion by Sir Teddy came as his party leader, Mr William Hague, flew into a political storm yesterday when he returned from his honeymoon to find no fewer than 12 Tory grandees had demolished his policy on Europe in a letter to the London Independent.
And in a stinging reply, published today, Sir Teddy expresses the view that their opinions represent a minority, insisting voters should have the choice of two parties "offering the alternative arguments on this fundamental" issue.
The letter in yesterday's Independent - signed by some of the most senior figures in the party, including the European Commission vice-chairman, Sir Leon Brittan, and the former Governor of Hong Kong, Mr Chris Patten - made clear members of the group are prepared to switch their support to Labour to bring Britain to the heart of Europe.
In an astonishing shot across the bows of the party, the letter stated: "We have failed to grasp fully the chance for Britain to play a truly leading role in Europe, and through Europe to magnify our influence worldwide . . . Conservatives committed to Britain at the heart of Europe will support Tony Blair and his colleagues in making the right decisions on the difficult challenges which lie ahead during the next six months and beyond."
Charting Britain's achievements in Europe since joining the EEC 25 years ago, the signatories marked the anniversary by charging Mr Hague with the task of "safeguarding our right to enter a single currency at any time."
Ignoring Tory fears about joining EMU following Britain's exit from ERM in 1992, the letter went on to insist: "This is the right policy for our country, and it is one we shall continue to commend with conviction to the Conservative Party . . ."
The letter has exposed old fault lines in the Tory party over Europe which, much to Mr Hague's disappointment, have never gone away. Sir Leon said yesterday the debate over Europe cut across party lines and despite the party line on entry to EMU he would back Labour in a referendum on entry to the single currency.
Speaking on BBC radio another signatory, the former foreign secretary, Lord Howe, warned Mr Hague: "No party that has adopted a continuous hostile attitude to Europe has prospered in this country." He also accused the party of "going in the wrong direction" over Europe. Other signatories include Sir Ted Heath, Mr John Gummer, Lord Carrington and Mr George Younger.
In a counter attack, the Tory party chairman, Lord Parkinson, dismissed the signatories as men who had helped the party lose the last election. He was joined in denouncing the letter by the former chancellor, Mr Norman Lamont, who said that the vast majority of Tories supported Mr Hague and "the signatories of this letter should do likewise."