Are Spartans set on a new Brexit battle?

Are the Spartans, the Brexit hardliners in the Tory Party, regrouping to challenge rishi Sunak’s Windsor Framework? Mark Francois, the doughty chief whip of the group, is updating his book Spartan Victory in which he tells the inside story of the battle for Brexit.

The Spartans may be reduced in number — there used to be 28 of them — because some of the originals, including the current Home Secretary Suella Braverman and Northern Ireland minister Steve Baker, have said they support the Windsor deal.

But with Francois furiously updating his book, there’s every indication that others still don’t believe the Brexit battle has been won and they are preparing for a new Thermopylae.

The Battle of Thermopylae in 480 BC was, of course, when 300 Spartan warriors fought to the death against a vast Persian Army in one of history’s most famous last stands.

According to Francois’ book, our modern- day Spartans knew that, if they stuck to their guns over Theresa May’s unacceptable Brexit deal, May would resign. Whether a last stand against rishi Sunak would have the same effect is open to question.