Boris Johnson has officially lost his majority in the House of Commons after a Tory MP defected to the Lib Dems – right in front of his face.
The humiliated Prime Minister had to shout over roars of support today as ex-minister Phillip Lee crossed the Commons floor before a crunch Brexit vote.
In a blistering statement Dr Lee accused the government of “manipulation, bullying and lies” to achieve a damaging Brexit that is “putting lives at risk”. He added: “The Party I joined in 1992 is not the Party I am leaving today.”
But some grassroots Lib Dems have reacted to the defection with anger, citing Dr Lee’s voting record on same-sex marriage among their concerns.
After crossing the floor he continued to torment the PM – making a Pinocchio hand gesture as Mr Johnson said he could easily get a Brexit deal.
The Tory leader is now running a minority government after the shock move by the ardent Remainer. His working majority was one. Now it is minus one.
In reality Dr Lee, an MP of 9 years and former health minister who quit over Brexit, would already have voted against Mr Johnson’s Brexit plans regardless of party. Meanwhile there are technically ‘opposition’ MPs who will support the PM. But the shift has a huge symbolic impact.
(Image: AFP)
Dr Lee followed newly elected Lib Dem MP Jane Dodds to the opposition benches at 3.30pm today amid cheers and applause from the party’s MPs.
He took a seat next to Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson. Chuka Umunna, who defected to the Lib Dems for the Change group in June, patted Dr Lee on the arm as he sat down.
And Lib Dem education spokesperson Layla Moran, sitting on the row behind, squeezed his shoulder.
Dr Lee said in a statement: “This Conservative Government is aggressively pursuing a damaging Brexit in unprincipled ways.
“It is putting lives and livelihoods at risk unnecessarily and it is wantonly endangering the integrity of the United Kingdom.
“More widely, it is undermining our country’s economy, democracy and role in the world. It is using political manipulation, bullying and lies. And it is doing these things in a deliberate and considered way.”
(Image: AFP/Getty Images)
The move came hours before a showdown vote by Tory rebels which was set to seize control of the Commons – triggering a general election.
MPs were set to vote at 10pm on taking control of Parliamentary business, paving the way to delay Brexit by three months to avoid no-deal.
Boris Johnson threatened rebels with losing the Tory whip, being deselected as candidates and facing a general election on October 14.
But they stood firm as the Prime Minister gave “unsatisfactory” answers about his Brexit plan in last-ditch talks with 15 rebels today in Downing Street.
MPs jeered today as the Prime Minister insisted he didn’t “want” an election.
SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford said: “This must be the shortest lived honeymoon in Parliamentary history.
“Prime Minister – you’ve lost your majority!”
(Image: AFP/Getty Images)
Boris Johnson faced shouts of “sham” and “resign” as Labour MPs heckled the Prime Minister.
Conservative former prime minister Theresa May also made her return to the back benches for the first time in 21 years, sitting next to Father of the House Ken Clarke – where she heckled Ian Blackford.
There was fury as the Prime Minister once again tried to blame MPs blocking no-deal Brexit for scuppering any hope of a breakthrough with the EU.
Jeremy Corbyn fumed the Government is “hiding from its own intentions”, telling MPs: “This isn’t just a Government in chaos, but a Government in cowardice.”
Labour’s leader added: “It is becoming increasingly clear that this reckless Government only has one plan – to crash out of the EU without a deal.
(Image: PA)
(Image: AFP/Getty Images)
“The reality is exposed today in the in-house journal of the Conservative Party, otherwise known as the Daily Telegraph, which reports the Prime Minister’s chief of staff calling negotiations a sham.
“Reports that the strategy is to, quote, run down the clock, and that the proposal to alter the backstop is a complete fantasy. And those are the words of the Attorney General.
“No-deal will mean food shortages, reduced medical supplies and chaos at our ports.. Not me, not me saying that. The Government’s own leaked analysis says.”
Mr Corbyn added: “He isn’t winning friends in Europe, he’s losing friends at home. His is a Government with no mandate, no morals and as of today no majority.”
(Image: AFP/Getty Images)
Dr Lee’s defection sparked fury among some grassroots Lib Dems.
Dr Lee abstained on the vote to legalise same-sex marriage, arguing Parliament’s role should be limited to legislation on same-sex civil unions, and marriage should be a matter for the church to reconcile.
He voted for an attempted “wrecking amendment” to the gay marriage bill, tabled by fellow Tory Tim Loughton.
And he backed screening immigrants for hepatitis before allowing them into the UK.
Jennie Rigg, who was chair of the Lib Dem LGBT+ group, resigned from both her role and the party.
She wrote: “I thought the Lib Dems were not a single issue party. I thought we had a soul and principles.
“But apparently as long as you are on the right side on Brexit we’ll take you. Well, I’m sorry, but no.”
She added: “It doesn’t matter if we already have others as bad. You don’t make bad things better by adding more bad things.
“It doesn’t matter that he will increase our numbers in parliament by ONE. He thinks me and people like me are a lower class of human. I will not share a party with him.”
Dr Lee’s defection comes three months after the MP, who quit the Government last year over its Brexit policy, suffered a vote of no confidence by his local association.
At the time the MP – who joined Dominic Grieve in being rejected by local members – admitted at the time he “may or may not” continue serving as a Tory MP for Bracknell.
Dr Lee campaigned for remain ahead of the 2016 referendum. And in June last year, he became the first of Theresa May’s ministers to quit over Brexit.
He resigned as a justice minister, saying he wanted to “better speak up for my constituents and country over how Brexit is currently being delivered.”
Dr Lee resigned during Mrs May’s battle to get her withdrawal agreement through the Commons.
He was angry over the government’s rejection of calls to decide what happened next if the deal was rejected – which it was, repeatedly.
(Image: AFP/Getty Images)
He said sidelining Parliament in such a way would have breached “fundamental principles of human rights and Parliamentary sovereignty.”
He added: “A vote between bad and worse is not a meaningful vote. And I cannot bring myself to vote for it in the bastion of liberty, freedom and human rights that is our Parliament.”
The Government backed down after his resignation.
Before resigning, Mr Lee had been among the most loyal Tory MPs, very rarely rebelling against the Tory whip, and never voting against anything in the party’s manifesto.
Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson said she was “delighted” adding: “He brings almost 10 years of Parliamentary experience and decades of professional expertise. He shares our commitment to prevent a disastrous No Deal Brexit, and to stop Brexit altogether.
“The Liberal Democrats are growing. Phillip follows both Chuka Umunna MP and Sarah Wollaston MP in bravely crossing the floor to join us.”
The move came just as new Lib Dem Jane Dodds swore the oath in Welsh after deposing shamed Tory MP Chris Davies in Brecon and Radnorshire.
MP Dr Phillip Lee’s defection statement in full
(Image: REUTERS)
After a great deal of thought, I have reached the conclusion that it is not possible to serve my constituents’ and country’s best interests as a Conservative Member of Parliament.
Over 27 years ago I joined the Conservative & Unionist Party led by Sir John Major. Since 2010 I have had the privilege of representing the Bracknell Constituency. The Party I joined in 1992 is not the Party I am leaving today.
This Conservative Government is aggressively pursuing a damaging Brexit in unprincipled ways. It is putting lives and livelihoods at risk unnecessarily and it is wantonly endangering the integrity of the United Kingdom. More widely, it is undermining our country’s economy, democracy and role in the world. It is using political manipulation, bullying and lies. And it is doing these things in a deliberate and considered way. It has gone so far beyond reckless as to cease to be conservative.
I am dismayed at what the Conservative Party has become, the role that it has played in feeding division and populism, in squandering a hard-won reputation for sound stewardship, and the blinkered direction in which it has set our country. Those are not my values. I will not implicitly condone these things by being party to them.
Make no mistake: this is a time of reckoning. The challenges that our world and country face are real – but not insurmountable. We need to root how we address them in evidence and reality. Critically, we need to recognise that we will not solve climate change, counter extremism, or address our housing, health and social care needs alone. We must work with others.
The opportunities to leave a better legacy are also significant. As a united country, we need to mobilise all our innovation, creativity, power and talent – not bury it under a Brexit that does not have the British people’s informed consent. As a society, we need to rediscover the liberal and democratic traditions that made our country great. We should be guided by the values of justice, liberty and community. We must recognise our responsibilities to our people and planet: we are stewards of our country’s and our world’s limited resources.
Each generation needs to define democracy for itself and so we each have a part in shaping what we want our politics and our country to stand for. Each of us must stand and be counted.
That is why today I am joining Jo Swinson and the Liberal Democrats. I believe the Liberal Democrats are best placed to build the unifying and inspiring political force needed to heal our divisions, unleash our talents, equip us to take the opportunities and overcome the challenges that we face as a society – and leave our country and our world in a better place for the next generations.
This breaking news story is being updated.
