mp allowed to take part in PM VOTE
LATE MOVE FREES GRIFFITHS TO TAKE PART IN PRIME MINSTER’S CONFIDENCE VOTE
SHAMED sex text MP Andrew Griffiths was able to vote to help keep Theresa May in power after the Conservative Party whip was restored, it has been revealed.
Mr Griffiths had been suspended from the Tory Party since mid-July for sending a series of vile sex texts to two Burton barmaids but the Chief Whip has restored his place in the Party to enable him to vote in last night’s party vote of confidence in the PM.
Mr Griffiths has already told the Burton Mail he would be supporting Mrs May in the fight to keep her position.
He said: “Theresa May has shown huge determination and bravery in negotiating and arguing for her deal.
“I believe she remains the best person to deliver the Brexit people in Burton and Uttoxeter voted for, and I will be supporting her in the ballot.”
He has been sitting as an independent MP since his suspension from the Party. He also resigned as Minister for Small Business but has refused to step down as MP for Burton and Uttoxeter.
But Mrs May needed his support in the secret ballot to help save her job as Prime Minister following requests to call a vote of no confidence.
The vote was called after some, mainly backbench Conservative MPs were unhappy about the progress of Mrs May’s Brexit negotiations and the required total of 48 MPs writing letters to the chairman of the party’s 1922 Committee saying they had no confidence in Mrs May – 15 per cent of the Tories in parliament – had been achieved.
The Burton Mail asked our local Tory MPs whether they would support Mrs May – Michael Fabricant, Heather Wheeler and Mr Griffiths all said they would.
South Derbyshire MP Mrs Wheeler said: “She has done her best in unprecedented circumstances, showing huge resilience and determination. In my view, we need to put this issue to bed so let’s have the vote and move on to delivering on the will of the majority when it comes to Brexit.”
North West Leicestershire MP Andrew Bridgen had not commented on his position but was one of the MPs who has called for the vote of confidence.
Some Conservative MPs have said they do not want a “backstop” arrangement, designed to a hard border between Ulster and the rest of Ireland, which is part of the EU, because it would mean Ulster having a trade border with the rest of the UK.
Lichfield MP Mr Fabricant said: “I did not submit a letter to the 1922 Committee and the timing of this vote is unfortunate as the Prime Minister has not completed her round of visits with EU leaders to resolve the Irish backstop question [she was due in Dublin yesterday].
“It’s also sad that this had to happen while she was abroad negotiating on behalf of our country.
“However, the vote has now been triggered and I will listen very carefully to what she has to say.
“I had already explained to the Prime Minister at the beginning of last week in a one-to-one that the Irish backstop causes the biggest problem for me.
“I hope she has found a solution or an alternative way forward.
“If not, the Government could fall in any event – as Northern Irish DUP MPs have said they will no longer support the Government in the House of Commons.”
For the latest on the big vote on the PM’s future, look online at our website: burtonlive.co.uk