PM apology after pact with LibDem was broken

THE Prime Minister was forced to issue an apology yesterday after the Tories broke a voting pact with an MP who was on maternity leave.

Liberal Democrat deputy leader Jo Swinson reacted with fury after learning that Tory party chairman Brandon Lewis had voted, despite agreeing not to. The two MPs had been ‘paired’, meaning Mr Lewis was not supposed to vote because Miss Swinson was unable to attend Parliament.

The informal practice allows votes of MPs of different parties to cancel each other out if one is absent from the House.

But Mr Lewis breached the agreement and took part in two crunch Commons votes on Tuesday to help Mrs May narrowly avoid a damaging defeat on Brexit trade plans.

Yesterday, the Prime Minister was forced to apologise to Miss Swinson, telling MPs: ‘The breaking of the pair was done in error.

‘We will continue to guarantee a pair for MPs that are currently pregnant or have a newborn baby.’

Miss Swinson tweeted a text from chief whip Julian Smith agreeing the pairing. Mr Smith apologised and said Mr Lewis had been ‘asked to vote in error’. Mr Lewis said it was an ‘honest mistake’.

Ms Swinson gave birth to her son Gabriel on June 29.