Yahoo News Tory MP compares Boris Johnson to Stalin over purge of 21 MPs
A Conservative MP has compared Boris Johnson to Stalin for removing 21 anti no-deal MPs from the party.
Simon Hoare said there was ‘deep disquiet’ among his colleagues over the decision to sack the rebels.
There’s deep disquiet across the Party at the handling of this issue of the Whip. We can’t win unless our base is broad and representative of all strands of opinion. No10 needs to rethink and fast. I think we are better being like Churchill and NOT Stalin #toriesdontpurge https://t.co/3pwr1rsbr6
— Simon Hoare Esq., MP (@Simon4NDorset) September 5, 2019
The Prime Minister is coming under increasing pressure over his decision to cull the MPs who voted against the whip.
The One Nation Tories - a group of around 100 moderate Conservative MPs - released a statement calling the decision “wrong in principle and bad practical politics”.
MPs removed from the party include Sir Oliver Letwin, Kenneth Clarke, Justine Greening, David Gauke, Dominic Grieve, Sam Gyimah and former Chancellor, Philip Hammond.
The rebel MPs supported a Bill to block a no-deal Brexit that was approved by MPs yesterday in a blow to the PM’s authority.
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One Nation group leader and former Cabinet minister Damian Green told the BBC: “I’m afraid it does look as though somebody has decided that the moderate, progressive wing of the Conservative Party is not wanted on voyage.”
Chancellor Sajid Javid told LBC Radio he was “saddened” by the decision, adding: “I would like to see those colleagues come back at some point but right now the Prime Minister had no choice.”
