Why haven’t the Conservatives launched a European elections campaign?

Brexit explained: Confusion will reign over the Conservative Party’s strategy for the European parliament election campaign for as long as the prime minister clings to the hope she can secure backing for a deal by 22 May

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A fortnight ago, Nigel Farage unveiled candidates for the European parliament elections for his newly-formed Brexit Party.

The group made up of rebel Labour and Tory MPs – Change UK – followed suit this week with their own high-profile launch, unveiling Boris Johnson’s sister, Rachel, as a candidate (among others).

It is expected that Labour will hold their own Euro elections launch – and manifesto – shortly after the results of the local elections have trickled in from across the country next Friday.

But the 23 May elections for Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) is a democratic exercise Theresa May never wanted the UK to take part in; and remains one the prime minister – it appears in vain – is still determined to avoid.

This is why there has been an alarming silence in Conservative quarters over whether the party will even have an election launch at all, never mind a manifesto.

Quizzed on the issue by reporters on Wednesday – following the weekly session of prime minister’s questions – No 10 declined to say what their strategy would involve and, with regard to any manifesto, simply added: “Those kind of things will be, I’m sure, set out in the usual and familiar way.”

Some activists in the party have said they will not participate in the campaign. Allies of the former foreign secretary, Boris Johnson, have previously briefed that he will be sitting this one out. “He believes the prospect of the UK fielding candidates is utterly preposterous,” one told The Times.

It is quite extraordinary on one level that the government is avoiding relatively simple questions on an election that is likely to take place in just four weeks’ time.

Under the current terms of the revised Article 50 Brexit negotiating deadline, the UK does not have to take part in the European elections if a deal is secured in the British parliament by the end of play on 22 May. However, if no deal is done, then the British public will be heading to the polls on the following day to elect the next crop of MEPs.

Given that no agreement in the cross-party talks over Brexit appear imminent, it seems fairly unlikely the prime minister will receive MPs’ backing for a Brexit plan in just a matter of weeks.

Experts have also warned that even if Ms May secures approval in principle, she has “no chance” of formally passing her deal in time to pull the UK out of the elections and to avoid what many speculate will be a devastating set of results for the party.

But confusion will reign over the Conservative Party’s strategy for the European parliament election campaign for as long as the prime minister clings to the hope she can win parliamentary approval for a deal by 22 May.