CCHQ will remain neutral during EU referendum campaign

The Conservative Party board has agreed that CCHQ will remain strictly neutral throughout the EU referendum campaign, Coffee House understands. Sources report that this afternoon’s meeting concluded that it was in the best interests of the party that its campaign machine be inaccessible to either side in the campaign. MPs had warned of a split if Tory party resources had been made available, particularly if they were made available for the side of the campaign that David Cameron ends up backing, which is expected to be ‘In’, while many Tory members are in favour of leaving. Earlier, Coffee House revealed that David Cameron was in favour of neutrality. But there will now be questions about the definition of neutrality. Does this include no data being shared with either camp? Does this mean donations to the Tory party cannot be used to help either campaign? Will anything created in CCHQ, such as software, be banned for use by either campaign? More details on that as soon as we find out the nature of the decision. UPDATE, 5.05pm: Tory sources explain that the agreement means the following:

In practical terms, this means that CCHQ and the Party will not seek to be a permitted participant in the referendum. CCHQ will not supply funds or voter information to either campaign. CCHQ will permit its staff to work for either side in their own time, or by taking unpaid leave of absence. Those who take unpaid leave will be able to return to their paid employment at the end of the campaign. This position of neutrality will apply to the Party’s Associations who will not be allowed to provide money, paid staff, data or Association offices and property to either side in the campaign.