Yahoo News Tory Brexiteer in furious row with fellow MP who 'b******** off to the Lib Dems'
A blazing row erupted on the airwaves last night after a Tory Brexiteer took aim at an MP who defected to the Lib Dems.
Mark Francois, a leading advocate for Brexit in the Tory ranks, appeared on LBC with Sam Gyimah, who switched to the Lib Dems after he had the whip withdrawn by Boris Johnson.
Mr Gyimah, a Remainer who has previously argued for a second referendum, was accused of throwing the loyalty of his Surrey East constituents back in their faces.
Mr Francois said: "Some months ago I challenged you to deny that you would defect to the Liberals. You flat promised you wouldn't. You stressed in another interview that you've been readopted by your local Conservative party and that they were behind you.
"And then a month later, in return for their loyalty, you basically b******* off anyway.
"You asked them to support you and they did. And you threw their loyalty back in their faces.”
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At this point, Mr Francois persistently asked whether Mr Gyimah would stand as an MP in the next election - a question that Mr Gyimah refused to answer.
He hit back: "I don't think it's any of your business what I do.
"When I'm in a position to make an announcement as to what I will do in the next election, I will let my constituents know.
"You are the poster child for the Conservative Party. You are what conservatism represents. I'm happy for you. I'm off."
Despite the question being repeated again by host Iain Dale, Mr Gyimah still refused to answer.
Mr Gyimah defected to the Lib Dems in September, making his announcement during the party’s conference.
He secured nearly 60% of the vote to become the Tory MP in the 2017 election, while the Lib Dem candidate came third, securing just over 10% of the vote.
