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Tory MP Stephen Phillips resigns Tory MP Stephen Phillips quits over 'irreconcilable differences'
(about 1 hour later)
Tory Stephen Phillips has quit as a Lincolnshire MP over "irreconcilable policy differences" with the government since the Brexit vote. Stephen Phillips has quit as Tory MP for Sleaford and North Hykeham over "irreconcilable policy differences" with government since the Brexit vote.
The MP for Sleaford and North Hykeham since 2010, he won the seat with a majority of more than 20,000 last year. The MP, who has held the Lincolnshire seat since 2010, backed leaving the EU but has accused ministers of by-passing Parliament since then.
The MP backed EU exit but said he could not represent constituents due to disagreements with ministers about their approach since June's Leave vote. He said he was "unable properly to represent the people who elected me".
It is not clear whether he will stand in a forthcoming by-election. It comes as Theresa May said she was confident she would win a legal battle over her approach to Brexit talks.
The politician and barrister is the second Tory MP to stand down in as many weeks - Zac Goldsmith last week forced a by-election over Heathrow expansion. On Thursday, three High Court judges ruled the government cannot officially notify the EU of its intention to leave, thus beginning formal talks, without Parliament's support.
Mr Phillips has been critical of the government's approach to Brexit since June's Leave vote, accusing Theresa May of trying to "ignore the views" of Parliament and avoiding scrutiny of the government's negotiating position. In a series of phone calls, the prime minister told European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker and Germany's Angela Merkel that the government believed it would win its Supreme Court appeal against the ruling and she was committed to triggering Article 50 by March 2017.
His resignation comes a day after the High Court said Parliament must be given a vote before the UK triggers official negotiations with the EU over its exit. 'Growing differences'
In a statement, he said: "It has become clear to me over the last few months that my growing and very significant policy differences with the current government mean that I am unable properly to represent the people who elected me. Although Mr Phillips represents a safe Conservative seat, his surprise departure increases the pressure on Mrs May's government - which has a working majority of 17.
It is not yet clear whether Mr Phillips, who won the seat last year with a majority of more than 24,000, will stand as an independent in a future by-election although this is thought to be unlikely.
Analysis by Ross Hawkins, BBC political correspondent
The government's values were no longer his values. On child refugees, on the use of aid money, on the handling of Brexit, he dissented from a party he thought was heading inexorably to the right.
That is the view from sources close to Stephen Phillips. One said he twice rejected a meeting with the prime minister.
Will other Tories follow? Some on the party's left tell me they'd rather stay and fight. Others reflect ruefully that unlike him they have no well-paid alternative career as a barrister.
A by-election in a safe seat won't much trouble party bosses. But while Downing Street doesn't want one, the departure of - yet another - Tory MP means the voices calling for a swift general election will grow a little louder.
The politician and barrister is the second Conservative MP to stand down in as many weeks - Zac Goldsmith last week forced a by-election over his opposition to expanding Heathrow airport.
Sources say Mr Phillips informed party whips earlier this week that he would resign as an MP as he felt his values were not the values of the government.
He has been critical of the government's approach to Brexit since June's Leave vote, accusing Theresa May of trying to "ignore the views" of Parliament and avoiding scrutiny of the government's negotiating position.
'Plain wrong'
In a recent newspaper article, he suggested the government was "lurching to the right" and that its attempt to start negotiations with the EU without the explicit approval of Parliament was "divisive and plain wrong".
In a statement, he did not spell out the specific reasons for his resignation but said: "It has become clear to me over the last few months that my growing and very significant policy differences with the current government mean that I am unable properly to represent the people who elected me.
"This decision has been a difficult one and I hope that everyone will respect the fact that I have tried to act in the best interests of all of my constituents.""This decision has been a difficult one and I hope that everyone will respect the fact that I have tried to act in the best interests of all of my constituents."
In last year's election, Mr Phillips won a majority of 24,115, with 56% of the vote. Labour finished second in the eurosceptic constituency, closely followed by UKIP. In last year's election, Mr Phillips won a majority of 24,115, with 56% of the vote. Labour finished second, closely followed by UKIP.
'Disappointed'
Mrs May has been seeking to reassure EU leaders about the UK's commitment to Brexit following Thursday's legal setback.
A No 10 spokeswoman said: "The PM explained to both Chancellor Merkel and President Juncker that while the government was disappointed with the judgment, it had strong legal arguments ahead of the case moving to the Supreme Court.
"The PM also confirmed that the government's planned timetable for notification of Article 50 remains unchanged.
The European Commission said the timetable for commencing talks on the UK's separation from the EU remained in the UK's hands.
"The president explicitly said the legal order and the constitutional order of the UK will be respected and we won't speculate on a possible delay," a spokeswoman said.
The UK voted by 52% to 48% to leave the European Union in a referendum on 23 June.
The EU's other 27 member states have said negotiations about the terms of the UK's exit - due to last two years - cannot begin until Article 50 has been invoked.