This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-62221445
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 5 | Version 6 |
---|---|
Tobias Ellwood suspended as Tory MP after missing confidence vote | Tobias Ellwood suspended as Tory MP after missing confidence vote |
(7 months later) | |
Tobias Ellwood has been stripped of the party whip, meaning he will no longer sit as a Tory MP | Tobias Ellwood has been stripped of the party whip, meaning he will no longer sit as a Tory MP |
A senior Tory MP has been suspended from the parliamentary party after he missed a vote of confidence in Boris Johnson's government. | A senior Tory MP has been suspended from the parliamentary party after he missed a vote of confidence in Boris Johnson's government. |
Tobias Ellwood has had the whip removed and will not be able to vote in the Conservative leadership election. | Tobias Ellwood has had the whip removed and will not be able to vote in the Conservative leadership election. |
Mr Ellwood said he was "sorry" to lose the whip but argued he was unable to return from a meeting in Moldova. | Mr Ellwood said he was "sorry" to lose the whip but argued he was unable to return from a meeting in Moldova. |
The government won the vote and the prime minister is due to continue in his role until a successor is elected. | The government won the vote and the prime minister is due to continue in his role until a successor is elected. |
Mr Ellwood, a former minister who chairs the Commons Defence Committee, said he had a meeting with the president of Moldova on Monday and had been "unable to secure return travel due to unprecedented disruption both here and in the UK". | Mr Ellwood, a former minister who chairs the Commons Defence Committee, said he had a meeting with the president of Moldova on Monday and had been "unable to secure return travel due to unprecedented disruption both here and in the UK". |
"I am very sorry to lose the whip but will now continue my meetings in Ukraine promoting the prime minister's efforts here and specifically seeking to secure the reopening of Odessa port - so vital grain exports can recommence," Mr Ellwood said in a statement. | "I am very sorry to lose the whip but will now continue my meetings in Ukraine promoting the prime minister's efforts here and specifically seeking to secure the reopening of Odessa port - so vital grain exports can recommence," Mr Ellwood said in a statement. |
Tory MPs to vote again in leadership race | Tory MPs to vote again in leadership race |
Who could be the next prime minister? | Who could be the next prime minister? |
Mason: Sunak ahead but Tory race still very much on | Mason: Sunak ahead but Tory race still very much on |
Russia invaded Ukraine in February and its forces have blockaded some Black Sea ports, including the key grain-exporting city of Odesa. | Russia invaded Ukraine in February and its forces have blockaded some Black Sea ports, including the key grain-exporting city of Odesa. |
Mr Ellwood tweeted a picture of himself sitting in a meeting with the governor of Odesa Oblast, Ukrainian colonel Maksym Marchenko. | Mr Ellwood tweeted a picture of himself sitting in a meeting with the governor of Odesa Oblast, Ukrainian colonel Maksym Marchenko. |
Apologies for missing key vote.Air travel chaos, after meet with the Moldova President, prevented return. Saddened to lose the whip.I carry on - good to be in ODESA and meet the impressive Mil Governor Marchenko to seek ways of re-opening the port & get that vital grain out. pic.twitter.com/gOKJnazKQS | Apologies for missing key vote.Air travel chaos, after meet with the Moldova President, prevented return. Saddened to lose the whip.I carry on - good to be in ODESA and meet the impressive Mil Governor Marchenko to seek ways of re-opening the port & get that vital grain out. pic.twitter.com/gOKJnazKQS |
Meanwhile, the UK government survived a vote of confidence in itself on Monday, winning by 349 votes to 238, a majority of 111. | Meanwhile, the UK government survived a vote of confidence in itself on Monday, winning by 349 votes to 238, a majority of 111. |
Other Tory MPs did not vote on Monday's confidence motion, but only Mr Ellwood has had the party whip removed. | Other Tory MPs did not vote on Monday's confidence motion, but only Mr Ellwood has had the party whip removed. |
The Tory Whips Office said other MPs who could not make the vote were "paired appropriately". | The Tory Whips Office said other MPs who could not make the vote were "paired appropriately". |
Pairing is an arrangement between two MPs of opposing parties to not vote on a particular issue. This enables an MP to be absent without affecting the result of the vote as they effectively cancel each other out. | Pairing is an arrangement between two MPs of opposing parties to not vote on a particular issue. This enables an MP to be absent without affecting the result of the vote as they effectively cancel each other out. |
Mr Ellwood's suspension prevented him for voting in the fourth leadership ballot of Tory MPs, who whittled down the candidates to three on Tuesday. | Mr Ellwood's suspension prevented him for voting in the fourth leadership ballot of Tory MPs, who whittled down the candidates to three on Tuesday. |
He is supporting trade minister Penny Mordaunt, who is currently in second place ahead of Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, who is being backed by allies of Mr Johnson. | He is supporting trade minister Penny Mordaunt, who is currently in second place ahead of Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, who is being backed by allies of Mr Johnson. |
Ms Mordaunt's team have dismissed the whips' argument, with one backer telling BBC Newsnight's Nick Watt "why didn't they do that for Tobias? He was visiting Moldova". | Ms Mordaunt's team have dismissed the whips' argument, with one backer telling BBC Newsnight's Nick Watt "why didn't they do that for Tobias? He was visiting Moldova". |
Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries, an ally of Mr Johnson, said suggestions that the prime minister was trying to remove a vote for Ms Mordaunt by stripping the whip from Mr Ellwood were "wholly untrue". | Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries, an ally of Mr Johnson, said suggestions that the prime minister was trying to remove a vote for Ms Mordaunt by stripping the whip from Mr Ellwood were "wholly untrue". |
"Every single MP of every party is under no illusion regarding the price to be paid in not voting during a Gov confidence motion," Ms Dorries wrote in a tweet. "It's a very clearly defined and historic red line. | "Every single MP of every party is under no illusion regarding the price to be paid in not voting during a Gov confidence motion," Ms Dorries wrote in a tweet. "It's a very clearly defined and historic red line. |
"Tobias could have voted like everyone else." | "Tobias could have voted like everyone else." |
Boris Johnson says he has "no idea" why the Labour leader “insisted” in holding a confidence motion in the government | Boris Johnson says he has "no idea" why the Labour leader “insisted” in holding a confidence motion in the government |
Boris Johnson says he has "no idea" why the Labour leader “insisted” in holding a confidence motion in the government | Boris Johnson says he has "no idea" why the Labour leader “insisted” in holding a confidence motion in the government |
In an unusual move, the government called the vote after it rejected a Labour motion that made reference to the prime minister. | In an unusual move, the government called the vote after it rejected a Labour motion that made reference to the prime minister. |
The vote could have triggered a general election had the government lost, although that would have required dozens of Conservative MPs to side with Labour and other opposition parties. | The vote could have triggered a general election had the government lost, although that would have required dozens of Conservative MPs to side with Labour and other opposition parties. |
It means Mr Johnson will carry on as prime minister until a new Tory leader is elected and replaces him in September this year. | It means Mr Johnson will carry on as prime minister until a new Tory leader is elected and replaces him in September this year. |
Ahead of the vote, Mr Johnson defended his government and his track record, speaking at length about about Brexit, support for Ukraine and his handling of the Covid-19 pandemic. | Ahead of the vote, Mr Johnson defended his government and his track record, speaking at length about about Brexit, support for Ukraine and his handling of the Covid-19 pandemic. |
Related Topics | |
Conservative Party | |
Tobias Ellwood |