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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Three MPs quit Tory party to join breakaway group | Three MPs quit Tory party to join breakaway group |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Three Tory MPs have resigned from the party to join an independent group, set up by former Labour MPs. | Three Tory MPs have resigned from the party to join an independent group, set up by former Labour MPs. |
| Anna Soubry, Sarah Wollaston and Heidi Allen wrote a joint letter to Theresa May to confirm their departure. | Anna Soubry, Sarah Wollaston and Heidi Allen wrote a joint letter to Theresa May to confirm their departure. |
| The PM said she was "saddened", but her party would "always offer... decent, moderate and patriotic politics". | The PM said she was "saddened", but her party would "always offer... decent, moderate and patriotic politics". |
| The three said Brexit had "redefined the Conservative Party - undoing all the efforts to modernise it" and there had been a "shift to the right". | The three said Brexit had "redefined the Conservative Party - undoing all the efforts to modernise it" and there had been a "shift to the right". |
| The pro-Remain trio will join the new Independent Group - made up of eight Labour MPs who resigned from their party over its handling of Brexit and anti-Semitism - saying it represented "the centre ground of British politics". | The pro-Remain trio will join the new Independent Group - made up of eight Labour MPs who resigned from their party over its handling of Brexit and anti-Semitism - saying it represented "the centre ground of British politics". |
| The group now has more MPs in Parliament than the Democratic Unionist Party and equals the number of Liberal Democrats. | The group now has more MPs in Parliament than the Democratic Unionist Party and equals the number of Liberal Democrats. |
| In the letter, the former Tory MPs said the party was "in the grip" of the DUP and the pro-Leave European Research Group over Brexit, and said there had been a "dismal failure" to stand up to them. | In the letter, the former Tory MPs said the party was "in the grip" of the DUP and the pro-Leave European Research Group over Brexit, and said there had been a "dismal failure" to stand up to them. |
| They wrote: "We find it unconscionable that a party, once trusted on the economy, more than any other, is now recklessly marching the country to the cliff edge of no deal." | They wrote: "We find it unconscionable that a party, once trusted on the economy, more than any other, is now recklessly marching the country to the cliff edge of no deal." |
| The three MPs said they will support the government on areas such as the economy, security and improvements to public services, but they felt "honour bound to put our constituents' and country's interests first" over Brexit. | The three MPs said they will support the government on areas such as the economy, security and improvements to public services, but they felt "honour bound to put our constituents' and country's interests first" over Brexit. |
| They told Mrs May: "We voted for you as leader because we believed you were committed to a moderate, open-hearted Conservative Party. | They told Mrs May: "We voted for you as leader because we believed you were committed to a moderate, open-hearted Conservative Party. |
| "Sadly, the Conservative Party has increasingly abandoned these principles and values with a shift to the right of British politics." | "Sadly, the Conservative Party has increasingly abandoned these principles and values with a shift to the right of British politics." |
| In an email to her constituents, Ms Soubry said she now had more in common with her fellow Nottinghamshire MP Chris Leslie - a founding member of the Independent Group and former Labour member - than many in her own party. | |
| "It is time to realign British politics and get back to the centre moderate ground," she said. | |
| And Ms Allen highlighted her concerns around poverty, as well as Brexit, in a statement, saying: "I can no longer represent a government and a party who can't open its eyes to the suffering endured by the most vulnerable in society - suffering which we have deepened whilst having the power to fix." | |
| She said she was "excited" about the future, adding: "I want to be part of something better, a party that people vote for because they want to, not because they feel they have to." | |
| Theresa May said the UK's membership of the EU had been "a source of disagreement both in our party and our country for a long time", so "ending that membership after four decades was never going to be easy". | Theresa May said the UK's membership of the EU had been "a source of disagreement both in our party and our country for a long time", so "ending that membership after four decades was never going to be easy". |
| But, she added: "By delivering on our manifesto commitment and implementing the decision of the British people we are doing the right thing for our country. And in doing so, we can move forward together towards a brighter future." | But, she added: "By delivering on our manifesto commitment and implementing the decision of the British people we are doing the right thing for our country. And in doing so, we can move forward together towards a brighter future." |
| The party's deputy chairman, Tory MP James Cleverly, told BBC Radio 5 Live that the resignations were "very sad and disappointing", which was echoed by Communities Secretary James Brokenshire. But he added that the focus "has to remain on delivering Brexit" and the Conservative party was "a broad church and will remain so". | |
| Remain-backing Tory MP Nicky Morgan said party "should regret losing three such talented women from the Conservative Party". |