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		Davies lets down Grantham voters Wednesday, 27th June 2007 The two Conservative MEPs for Lincolnshire and the East Midlands have expressed their surprise and regret at the sudden defection of Quentin Davies, who has been MP for Grantham and Stamford for twenty years. Speaking today, Roger Helmer MEP said: "While I have often disagreed with Quentin on a range of issues, especially the EU, I always regarded him as a loyal party member. I am astonished by his decision". Chris Heaton-Harris added: "Davies has enjoyed twenty years in the job as a result of the support of Conservative voters and activists in the Constituency. This is a shocking act of betrayal". Both MEPs expressed surprise at Davies' effusive praise for incoming Prime Minister Gordon Brown. They point out that Brown is the man who, as Chancellor, drove up taxation in the UK, putting the economy at risk. He is the man who created a tax system so complicated that even accountants are calling for simplification. He has created a vast, complex benefit system that has seen many thousands overpaid and facing claims for claw-backs, while others entitled to benefits have been deterred by incomprehensible application forms. He has squandered vast amounts of money on the NHS without achieving significant results. They are astonished that Davies' claims to "share Brown's vision for Britain", which appears to be an ever-larger state sector, ever higher taxes and less and less scope for personal initiative, responsibility and liberty. Commenting on the move, Mr Helmer said: "I can only speculate that Quentin has been offered the prospect of glittering prizes in exchange for his disloyalty. Expect to see him given a ministerial position in Gordon Brown's 'big tent' administration". The MEPs dismissed Mr. Davies' proposition that he didn't know what the modern Conservative Party stood for, arguing that the ideological divide between Conservative and Labour was now clearer than ever -- a Labour party that seeks ever more centralisation and control, higher taxes, a Nanny State, and more intrusion into every aspect of the citizen's life and behaviour, against a Conservative party prepared to trust the people, devolve decision-making, and encourage personal opportunity and responsibility. See also Roger's open letter to Quentin Davies