In an article in this morning's Independent John Stevens, the co-founder of the Pro-Euro Conservatives and former Conservative MEP for Thames Valley, sets out the reasons why he and many other former Tories, including former Conservative MP Sir Anthony Meyer and former Tory MEP Brendan Donnelly, are now joining the Liberal Democrats.
"They offer, in short, what the British people so desperately need: a principled, moderate alternative to this Government. They deserve to destroy the Conservative Party."
"I am delighted that the pro-Euro Conservative Party are deciding to join the Liberal Democrats. I believe our Party stands for the values which they have upheld for so long.
"The Conservative Party is now not only extreme, but extremely ineffective. The effective opposition to Labour in this Parliament is coming from the Liberal Democrats. I am convinced that more and more people who have supported the Conservatives in the past are coming to realise that Iain Duncan Smith's parody of a once great party has deserted them.
"I look forward to more and more former Conservatives following the excellent lead of those who have joined us today."