After days of bad news for Labour over the decision of several moderates to quit and form The Independent Group, it’s now the turn of the Tories. Three Conservative MPs have today resigned the party whip to join the group. In a joint letter to the Prime Minister, Anna Soubry, Sarah Wollaston and Heidi Allen say they no longer feel at home in a party where the policies are so ‘firmly in the grip of the ERG and DUP’. They will now join eight former Labour MPs in the newly formed group – bringing the total size up to 11.
While the news has shocked some Conservatives, these three MPs were the politicians who were seen as the most likely to quit. Both Sarah Wollaston and Heidi Allen are regarded by many colleagues as independent MPs anyway – both taking positions which frequently go against the governments.
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