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Tobias Ellwood has Tory whip removed for failing to vote in confidence motion | Politics News



Senior Conservative MP Tobias Ellwood has had his Conservative whip removed after he lost yesterday’s confidence vote for the government.

A whip office spokesman said: “MP Tobias Ellwood lost the Conservative Party whip after he failed to vote in favor of the government in last night’s vote of confidence.”

Mr Ellwood, chairman of the influential Defense Select Committee, said he was “sorry” to lose the Tory whip but argued that he could not return from a meeting with the Moldovan president due to “unprecedented disruptions” yes”.

In a statement, he said: “Following my meeting yesterday with the president of Moldova, I cannot guarantee travel due to the unprecedented disruption both here and in the UK.

“I regret the loss of the whip but will now continue my meetings in Ukraine to advance the prime minister’s efforts here and in particular to seek to secure the reopening of the port of Odesa – to export military personnel. Important cups can start again.”

Sky News understands the move means Mr Ellwood will not be able to vote in the Conservative Party leadership contest’s fourth round vote this afternoon.

Mr Ellwood, a longtime critic of Boris Johnson, backed former Defense Secretary Penny Mordaunt in the leadership race.

Losing the effective whip means an MP is expelled from their party for not following the leadership’s strict instructions.

They have not lost their seats and will remain an MP.

But, until the whip is restored, they will sit independently in the Commons.

Responding to the announcement, Liberal Democrat head Wendy Chamberlain questioned why Mr Johnson had removed the whip from Mr Ellwood so quickly but “wasted his feet for days when it came to suspending the whip from Mr. his staunch supporter Chris Pincher” – who was eventually suspended. sexual assault claims.

“This small act shows that there is no room in the Conservative Party for those who refuse to support Johnson,” she said.

“The Conservative leadership candidates should condemn this move and make it clear that they will reinstate the whip to Tobias Ellwood.

“Anything less would show they were all as bad as Johnson and would continue his failing record in terms of sleaze, NHS and cost of living.”



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