Tory whips fear Remainers could defect to the Lib Dems

TORY whips have placed a number of their Remain supporting MPS on a “watch list” amid fears that they may defect to the Liberal Democrats under a Boris Johnson government.

The move comes as Jo Swinson was yesterday announced as Vince Cable’s successor, the first woman to lead the party in its 31-year history.

Ms Swinson, 39, who succeeds Sir Vince Cable, told activists the UK’S future lay in the European Union and that she would do “whatever it takes to stop Brexit”.

Her victory follows reports that as many as six Conservative MPS were due to hold talks with the rival party with the aim of derailing Brexit.

It has been suggested that they were to meet Ms Swinson’s leadership rival Sir Ed Davey, who lost out by 28,021 votes to 47,997.

One Tory MP told The Daily Telegraph: “With the Government’s majority already on a knife-edge, there are legitimate concerns that it may dwindle further.

“It only takes a couple of Remainers to defect for the majority to be wiped out completely.”

Last night, former education secretary Justine Greening denied rumours she was contemplating crossing the floor, saying: “This is absolute nonsense, I have had no conversations with anyone about defecting.”

Margot James, who resigned as digital minister last Thursday to support efforts to stop parliament being prorogued, refused to rule out switching allegiances, saying she had no plans to join the Lib Dems “at the moment”.