Amber Rudd claims Boris Johnson asked her to stand in the general election amid spat over Tory whip

Jacob Jarvis30 October 2019
WEST END FINAL

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Amber Rudd has claimed Boris Johnson asked her to run in the next general election amid a spat over her not being given back the Tory whip.

The former minister, who resigned from the Cabinet in solidarity with ejected Conservative rebels earlier this year, said the PM made the request "just last week".

She earlier told the Standard she would be leaving the Commons ahead of the next election - but hoped to do so after being welcomed back into the fold of her former party.

However, those hopes were dashed by chief whip Mark Spencer as he wrote to her stating he was not in a position to do so, as he did not trust she would not turn on the PM again.

Amber Rudd quit in protest of the PM's handling of Brexit
REUTERS

Ms Rudd has responded to this letter and said: "Funny thing really, as just last week the PM asked me to stand in the General Election."

She then further hit out at the chief whip and tweeted that he "has been briefed by the wrong 'No 10 Sources' this morning".

"Nonetheless I respect the decision he had been asked to make," she concluded.

Mr Spencer had said: “Receipt of the whip is an honour, not a right and it cannot be discarded or returned at will.

"I understand that you plan to stand down from Parliament at the election and, while I know you will find this letter disappointing, I wanted to wish you well in future outside of the House."

Earlier, Ms Rudd said she was not "finished with politics" but was "just not standing at this election".

Several other senior parliamentarians have announced they will not stand at the forthcoming election in December, including David Lidington, who was Theresa May's de facto deputy during her time as PM.

Sir David cited the "heavy cost" of politics on family life, in a letter to The Bucks Herald newspaper.

He said: "After a great deal of thought I have decided not to seek re-election at the forthcoming general election.

"Politics imposes a heavy cost on family and private life. That is not a complaint: people who seek elected office do so voluntarily.

"But I have come to the conclusion that now is the right time for me to give a higher priority in terms of my time and energy, to Helen and my family who have given unstinting support to me during more than a quarter of a century in the House of Commons."

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