Complex sentence: The idea received mixed reception amongst senior Conservatives, with former Scottish Secretary under John Major Lord Forsyth calling the plan'ludicrous', however his predecessor under Margaret Thatcher, Sir Malcolm Rifkind called it'refreshing' and stated that it should be given serious consideration.
Split into simpler sentences: The idea received mixed reception amongst senior Conservatives, with former Scottish Secretary under John Major Lord Forsyth calling the plan'ludicrous'. However his predecessor under Margaret Thatcher, Sir Malcolm Rifkind called it'refreshing' and stated that it should be given serious consideration.