The Conservative party has undergone significant change in the past 24 hours. As a Brexit showdown looms – and reports of an imminent early election rise – a number of Conservative MPs have announced they will not be seeking re-election. Justine Greening was the first to go today. Announcing her decision, she said her party had become the Brexit party and argued the Conservative party was ‘narrowing down its appeal’ to people across the country. Alastair Burt – the former Foreign Office minister – has also made clear he will not seek re-election. Keith Simpson is also stepping down. However, the MP for Broadland in Norfolk puts this down to reaching the ‘ripe old age’ of 70 rather than anything to do with Brexit. Philip Lee meanwhile has this afternoon defected to the Liberal Democrats.
Tonight the list of departing Tory MPs will grow with a number of Brexit rebels insisting they will go ahead with their threats and vote to legislate against a no deal Brexit.
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