John Major urges voters to support ex-Tory rebels

6 December 2019, 15:16

Sir John Major has urged people to re-elected three MPs who were ousted from the Conservative Party for voting against Boris Johnson over Brexit.

The former Tory PM is backing independent candidates David Gauke, Dominic Grieve and Anne Milton in the general election.

Despite his Tory ties, prominent Remainer Sir John said "tribal loyalties" had been loosened by Brexit.

Boris Johnson described the comments as "very sad" and "wrong" before calling Sir John's views "outdated".

In September, 21 MPs were expelled from the Conservative Party after they voted against Boris Johnson'splan to pursue a no-deal exit from the EU.

10 of them were later allowed back, however, Mr Gauke, Mr Grieve and Ms Milton were not.

The three of them are now all running as independents in the seats they held in the 2017 election.

Speaking in a video message, Sir John described Brexit as "the worst foreign policy decision in my lifetime".

He went on to praise Mr Gauke, Mr Grieve and Ms Milton as "principled, decent human beings".

He added: "None of them has left the Conservative Party; the Conservative Party has left them.

"Without such talent on its benches, Parliament will be the poorer, which is why, if I were resident in any one of their constituencies they would have my vote."

Boris Johnson responded: "I think it's very sad and I think that he is wrong, and I think that he represents a view that is outdated, alas, greatly that I respect him and his record.

"And I think that what we need to do now is honour the will of the people and get Brexit done."

Sir John previously joined a lawsuit against the suspension of parliament by Mr Johnson.

The Supreme Court ruled that the suspension was unlawful.