Conservative Deputy Treasurer quits

Johan Eliasch doesn’t like the recent Conservative lurch to the right and is quitting.

The Times has more on the story:

After a week in which Mr Cameron took fresh hardline positions on crime and immigration, sources close to Mr Eliasch told The Times that he was upset that Mr Cameron was taking his party to the Right at a time when it should be focusing on capturing the centre ground … “Changing direction in mid-course is a mistake,” a source close to Mr Eliasch said. An added headache for the Tory leadership is that Mr Eliasch, 45, made a £2.6 million loan to the party, which is still outstanding.