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Theresa May reaches out to Remainer rebels amid quit rumours Theresa May reaches out to Remainer rebels amid quit rumours
(32 minutes later)
Theresa May is holding meetings with leading Tory Remainers, amid speculation about further defections. Theresa May has held meetings with leading Tory Remainers, amid speculation about further defections.
Phillip Lee - who claims the prime minister has ignored the views of pro-EU Tory MPs in favour of Brexiteers - met the PM earlier in Downing Street. Justine Greening and Phillip Lee say Mrs May has ignored requests from pro-EU Tory MPs in favour of Brexiteers.
Justine Greening, who says she considered quitting the party and would do so if it allowed a no-deal Brexit, is now in No 10. The pair had separate meetings with the PM in Downing Street.
Three Conservative MPs quit to join the new Independent Group on Wednesday. Ms Greening said she had considered joining the three MPs who quit the Conservative Party on Wednesday - and would do so if there was a no-deal Brexit.
The defectors, like Ms Greening and Mr Lee, back another EU referendum - and they say more Tory and Labour MPs are poised to join their group. The defectors, like Ms Greening and Mr Lee, back another EU referendum - and they say more Tory and Labour MPs are poised to join their new Independent Group.
Ex-Tory MP Heidi Allen told ITV's Peston programme "a third" of Tory MPs were fed up with the party's direction.Ex-Tory MP Heidi Allen told ITV's Peston programme "a third" of Tory MPs were fed up with the party's direction.
Mr Lee, who quit as a justice minister over Brexit, has been named by Ms Allen as a potential future defector to the Independent Group. Ms Greening and Mr Lee, who quit as a justice minister over Brexit, have been named by Ms Allen as a potential future defectors to the Independent Group.
The Right to Vote group, which is chaired by Mr Lee, said he had discussed the campaign's calls for a pause in the Brexit process and a possible second referendum. The Right to Vote group, which is chaired by Mr Lee, said he had discussed the campaign's calls for a pause in the Brexit process and a possible second referendum with Mrs May.
"Talks were open and we are encouraged she listened to our case," the group said."Talks were open and we are encouraged she listened to our case," the group said.
Ms Greening added that she had "not seen the prime minister recently," despite "multiple" requests for meetings.
Mr Lee has said one of the reasons the Tory MPs had decided to quit the party was the access the Brexiteer European Research Group got to the prime minister, who he said had refused to meet his wing of the party.Mr Lee has said one of the reasons the Tory MPs had decided to quit the party was the access the Brexiteer European Research Group got to the prime minister, who he said had refused to meet his wing of the party.
Justine Greening - a former education secretary - told the Today programme she had been tempted to break away from the Conservative Party. Justine Greening - a former education secretary - told the Today programme she had been tempted to break away from the Conservative Party and join the Independent Group.
"It is something that I have considered, but I have reached a different conclusion for the moment," Ms Greening told Today."It is something that I have considered, but I have reached a different conclusion for the moment," Ms Greening told Today.
"I don't think I would be able to stay part of a party that was simply a Brexit party that had crashed us out of the European Union.""I don't think I would be able to stay part of a party that was simply a Brexit party that had crashed us out of the European Union."
The Independent Group was set up by eight defecting Labour MPs unhappy about their party's handling of Brexit and anti-Semitism.The Independent Group was set up by eight defecting Labour MPs unhappy about their party's handling of Brexit and anti-Semitism.
They were later joined by three pro-Remain Tories - who accuse the Conservative leadership of allowing right-wing hardliners to shape the party's approach to Brexit and other matters.They were later joined by three pro-Remain Tories - who accuse the Conservative leadership of allowing right-wing hardliners to shape the party's approach to Brexit and other matters.
Labour's Ian Austin also expressed sympathy with the Independent Group's aims, saying he would think "long and hard" about his future in the Labour party.Labour's Ian Austin also expressed sympathy with the Independent Group's aims, saying he would think "long and hard" about his future in the Labour party.
Shadow home Secretary Diane Abbott told BBC Radio 4's The World at One: "I am very sad that the Labour members of this new independent organisation have gone.Shadow home Secretary Diane Abbott told BBC Radio 4's The World at One: "I am very sad that the Labour members of this new independent organisation have gone.
"Up until the last minute, people were talking to them, trying to persuade them not to take the step they have taken.""Up until the last minute, people were talking to them, trying to persuade them not to take the step they have taken."
She said she hoped they would continue to work with Labour on issues like homelessness, the benefit system, the NHS and "most of all fighting this Tory Brexit".She said she hoped they would continue to work with Labour on issues like homelessness, the benefit system, the NHS and "most of all fighting this Tory Brexit".