By Tony O'Riley-
Boris Johnson has been attacked at a meeting with Conservative MPs for the first gathering of the 1922 committee for his decision to withdraw the party whip from the 21 rebels. Johnson’s government announced that all those who voted for a bill to delay Brexit would not be able to represent the Conservative party again.
The prime minister denied that his chief adviser, Dominic Cummings was a factor in his decision, as the British government was defeated in the Commons by angry Mps who feel the prime minister is making a deadly mistake.
MPs Tobias Ellwood, Edward Leigh, Tim Loughton and Damian Green expressed their view that the prime minister had made a mistake in his decision. Mr Johnson said the decision was taken by chief whip Mark Spencer and he “can’t undermine the chief”. Allegations of hypocrisy were made when it came to light that Johnson’s government had decided not to withdraw the whip from Dame Caroline Spelman, even though she voted for the legislation to block a no deal Brexit, contrary to the prime minister’s warning against doing so.
This evening, Parliament Mps defeated the government in a second vote to block Johnson’s controversial bid to push for a no deal Brexit in October, derailing those plans in favour of a three months Brexit delay. Johnson and his team argue that rebels are only increasing the prospects of a no deal by opposing the government and empowering EU leaders further. Earlier today, the prime minister challenged Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn to back an election, but the labour leader is currently focused on guaranteeing taking a no deal off the table first.
The ongoing tension in Westminster over Brexit shows just how divided Mps are over Brexit, a matter their combined mental resources should have solved a long time ago. The British public won’t be very impressed, an election may truly be knocking on the doors.