May leads fight to reinstate Tory rebels

THERESA May has emerged as the leading critic of Boris Johnson’s ‘brutal’ decision to purge 21 Remainer rebels from the Tory benches, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.

The Prime Minister stunned Westminster by calling the bluff of those Conservatives who voted with the Opposition to try to force him to delay Brexit – sparking two formal complaints from his predecessor.

Mrs May has raised the issue directly with Party chairman James Cleverly and Chief Whip Mark Spencer on behalf of a group that includes former Chancellor Philip Hammond.

She approached Mr Cleverly behind the Speaker’s Chair in the Commons on Wednesday to raise concerns about the legality of blocking any of the rebels from being candidates at the next Election. A Tory source said: ‘It was all very courteous and professional but there are a lot of angry people.’

It is understood Mrs May made a separate complaint to Mr Spencer, urging reconciliation.

Meanwhile, rebel Tory MPs stripped of the party whip are close to agreeing an Election pact with Jo Swinson’s Liberal Democrats.

Under the plan, if ditched MPs Dominic Grieve, Rory Stewart, Sam Gyimah and Margot James are not allowed back into the Party, the Liberals and Greens would not put up an Election candidate against them. In return, if they were to beat the official Tory candidates and enter the Commons, they would take a ‘soft whip’ from the Liberals, and vote with Ms Swinson’s party on selected issues.

The hope is other Tory outcasts will join. It is unclear what name they would stand under, although one option being considered is the ‘Liberal Conservatives’.

The pact is being brokered by Penrith and the Border MP Mr Stewart and former Lib Dem leader Tim Farron. A source said: ‘Tim and Rory are the main forces in this.’

Of the 21 MPs kicked out, ten intended to stand again. The remaining 11 were already planning to stand down at the next Election.