Tory MPs are shunning Cameron’s bonding session as tensions are running high over the EU referendum
Prime Minister is hoping to gee up his colleagues before next month's local elections but the away day might have the opposite effect
AFTER a difficult few weeks in politics David Cameron wanted nothing more than a bonding session with his MPs – but they don’t want to go.
The ‘away day’ with the Prime Minister at a four star hotel in the leafy Heythrop Park estate near his Witney constituency has been designed to gee everyone up before next month’s local elections.
Number10 has not told MPs what to expect at the gathering but have been told the dress code is casual.
They have also been told there won’t be any mobile phone reception.
One MP told : “It’s to stop us tweeting.”
With the party split over the EU referendum, many have said they are not going to turn up.
“The last thing I want to do is spend my spare time with these people,” one Tory backbencher staying away from the gathering told Politico.
Another texted: “I am most definitely not going on the away day.”
MPs who have only been in their jobs since last year’s general election were told to arrive at the Oxfordshire estate by 1pm, two hours before everyone else.
Politico reports one Eurosceptic MP said: “I think we are being sent to be re-programmed! I’m intrigued to see what they have in store for us.”
Guest speakers at previous away-days have included Cameron’s Australian election guru Lynton Crosby and the US political adviser Jim Messina to give them tips about the best way to defeat Ed Miliband.
But it is thought tensions over the EU referendum would make it difficult to invite a guest speaker without offending one of the sides.
Instead just the Prime Minister and Conservative Party chairman Lord Feldman are expected to speak.