One of the most prominent campaigners for a second Brexit referendum lost a no-confidence vote by his local party. Dominic Grieve, the former attorney-general and Conservative MP for Beaconsfield in Buckinghamshire, now faces the threat of deselection proceedings after his local association met on Friday evening.
The Beaconsfield Conservative Association voted 182 to 131 against him following a “robust discussion”, according to its chairman Jackson Ng.
Although Mr Grieve has lost the support of activists he will remain the MP for Beaconsfield. The association will have to decide whether he is adopted as their candidate for the next election.
Mr Grieve spoke at a rally in central London last weekend advocating a second Brexit referendum. He has also played a key role in giving the House of Commons a meaningful say in the government’s Brexit deal.
Some leading Conservatives expressed regret at the vote. Boris Johnson, the Brexit-supporting former foreign secretary, tweeted: “Sad to hear about Dominic Grieve. We disagree about EU but he is a good man and a true Conservative.”
Tom Tugendhat, chair of the foreign affairs select committee, praised Mr Grieve’s record as attorney-general. “He has served our country dutifully for decades. He deserves thanks and praise. Our party and country would be poorer [without him].”
Several Conservative MPs who have taken anti-Brexit stances have faced no-confidence votes, including former minister Nick Boles.
A growing number of senior Tories are concerned at a “purple wave” of Eurosceptic campaigners joining the party to force out Remain-minded MPs.
The vote against Mr Grieve was prompted by an online petition started by a former Ukip candidate in Beaconsfield. It has received more than 38,000 signatures.
Brandon Lewis, chairman of the Conservatives, stressed that Mr Grieve had not yet been deselected. “He is an outstanding colleague who we [the central party] will continue to support,” he tweeted.
George Osborne, the former chancellor and now editor of the London Evening Standard, suggested that Mr Grieve’s association should be suspended.
“The Tory leadership can stop any deselection if it wants . . . CCHQ [Conservative Campaign HQ] should suspend the local party. Otherwise we are heading for a huge historic split in the Tory party.”
Mr Grieve could not be reached for comment. On Wednesday he said “I’ve been a member of the Conservatives for 43 years. I’ve no intention of leaving.”
