Turncoat who gave Mrs May just 15mins’ notice he’d quit
FORMER justice minister Phillip Lee faced the threat of de- selection last night after his decision to resign over Brexit sparked fury in his constituency.
The GP said he was quitting to vote against the Government as he could no longer back Theresa May’s EU strategy.
He said he wanted to ‘speak up’ for his Berkshire constituents – even though a majority voted Leave – and appeared to compare Brexit to the death penalty. Dr Lee, a personal friend of Mrs May, gave her just 15 minutes’ notice of his decision.
Just 12 hours earlier, he had been seen having dinner in the Commons with Tory rebel leader Dominic Grieve. Dr Lee was lauded by Labour, with shadow education secretary Angela Rayner saying she had ‘total respect for him for standing by what he thinks is right’. Last night he tweeted: ‘I am
‘It’s on his conscience’
incredibly sad to have had to announce my resignation as a minister... so I can better speak up for my constituents and country over how Brexit is currently being delivered.’
But his decision infuriated Tories in his Bracknell constituency. Several constituents warned they would not vote for him again.
Dr Lee is now set to be hauled in front of an executive meeting this month. Tory association chairman Chris Boutle called the decision ‘regrettable’ and revealed that he had first read the news on Twitter.
He warned that ‘if an election were to be called it will count against him’ if he wanted to be reselected.
‘Philip Lee did speak to me this morning after his resignation,’ said Mr Boutle. ‘I said I thought it was a regrettable decision. He said that as he’s voting against the Government on the matter of a meaningful vote, this makes his ministerial position untenable. ‘I think it’s regrettable that he couldn’t support the Government at this time. ‘During the Referendum campaign, he came out in favour of Remain so his personal views do not chime with those of most of his constituents.
‘There will be an executive meeting in two weeks. I think many of our members are not going to be very impressed by his decision.’
Gill Birch, a Bracknell borough councillor, added: ‘The timing could have been better ... and that’s on his conscience. My own view is that the country voted to Leave and we should support Theresa May.’
Yesterday, several constituents vowed not to vote for Mr Lee again. Sylvia Blake, 85, said: ‘He is not supporting what the area voted for.’ Gary Hambledon, a retired HGV driver, 67, said: ‘He has definitely betrayed us. At the end of the day we voted him in and we voted to leave, so he should serve us.’ Margaret Ayscogh, 74, said his resignation would make her ‘think twice’ about voting for him again.
Dr Lee yesterday insisted his decision to quit was based on Brexit. He had urged fellow Tory MPs to push for a ‘meaningful’ vote on any final Brexit deal in the Commons. The Government defeated the amendment. He also called for a second referendum and compared Brexit to the death penalty.
In his resignation speech, Dr Lee was applauded as he said politicians had a duty to defy public opinion if it harmed society, pointing to the example of Parliament banning capital punishment. Despite his comments, he eventually abstained on the key Brexit vote last night.
Downing Street tried to play down the impact, saying: ‘His resignation is a matter for him and we thank him for his service.’