In this chapter Anthony Teasdale—drawing on decades of first-hand experience—traces the dramatic evolution of the British Conservative Party’s relationship with the European People’s Party (EPP), from distant estrangement to pragmatic alliance, and ultimately, to painful divorce. Teasdale captures the complex interplay of personalities, ideologies and political strategy that shaped this journey—from the Conservatives’ formation of their own group in the 1970s, to their eventual merger with the EPP Group under Prime Minister John Major, who sought to reposition his party at the heart of Europe after Margaret Thatcher’s combative Euroscepticism. He vividly recounts the party’s golden years as an influential EPP ally, navigating ideological differences while shaping European policy from within, only to see this ‘beautiful political friendship’ unravel under David Cameron, whose decisions—driven by domestic pressures—would ultimately sideline the Conservatives in Brussels and pave the way for Brexit. Rich in historical detail and political nuance, the chapter offers a captivating account of what was gained—and lost—when Britain’s Conservatives turned away from the European mainstream.