The four abstaining Tories who could have made a difference

FOUR Tory MPs are thought to have abstained in last night’s vote.

They included Ed Vaizey, a member of David Cameron’s ‘chumocracy’ who was fired by Mrs May and said he was ‘hurt, bitter, thoroughly p****d off’ about it. He also said Mr Cameron had ‘sort of stuffed the country by accident’ with Brexit.

Another notable abstainer was George Freeman, who resigned his position on Mrs May’s backbench policy board and has claimed the party risks being seen as one of ‘nostalgia, hard Brexit and lazy privilege’.

Others were Carlisle MP John Stevenson, whose seat voted strongly for Leave, and Paul Masterton, who represents the heavily Remainer seat of East Renfrewshire.

Dover MP Charlie Elphicke, who has been suspended by the party over allegations of sexual misconduct, also abstained. He no longer holds the whip.