Boris tries to charm Tory MPs in Commons tearoom

The Tory rebels on tonight’s motion are in the process of losing the party whip. There were many more than the whips had expected, but this may well be seen by those around Boris Johnson as being a way of getting rid of the sort of MPs who would always be a thorn in the Prime Minister’s flesh. There is little point in having an election to get a majority if that majority turns out to be hollow, with a large group of backbenchers who won’t actually back the government on the key issue of the day.

All this might be true, but the Conservative party tonight is in a state of shock. Many senior MPs who I have spoken to who understand why Johnson has had to take a tough stance on backbenchers seizing control of the order paper are still very upset about the departure of colleagues who they respected and worked with in government in many cases.