Remain-backing Grantham MP Nick Boles quits local Tory party

MP Nick Boles has quit his local Conservative association
AFP/Getty Images
Asher McShane16 March 2019
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Remain-backing senior Conservative politician Nick Boles has quit his local Conservative Association in the face of efforts to deselect him as the candidate for the next election amid rows over Brexit.

The former minister told members of Grantham and Stamford Conservative Association he was resigning "with immediate effect" but will continue to "take the Conservative whip at Westminster if it is offered "on acceptable terms", according to a letter obtained by the BBC.

Mr Boles said he was "not willing to do what would be necessary to restore a reasonable working relationship with a group of people whose values and views are so much at odds with my own".

In this letter, he said: "A division has opened up between me and members of the association executive", adding: "Many of them are convinced that the Government should take the UK out of the European Union without a deal.

"While I have consistently argued that Brexit must be delivered, and have voted for the Prime Minister's deal every time she has brought it to the House of Commons, I am certain that crashing out of the EU without a deal would do great harm to the British people and have done everything in my power to prevent it."

Councillor Martin Hill, vice president of the Grantham and Stamford Conservative Association, told members: "As you are all aware, Nick has been at odds with the local party and the Prime Minister for some time, so this announcement does not come as a complete surprise, but the timing does leave at lot to be desired.

"I understand that it is Mr Boles' intention to carry on as the MP for Grantham and Stamford until the next general election despite being elected to represent us in Parliament."

Chief Whip Julian Smith said Mr Boles "is a valued member of the Conservative Parliamentary party which I hope will continue to benefit from his ideas and drive".

While teasury minister Robert Jenrick said Mr Boles "remains a valued part" of the Conservative parliamentary party "and I will continue to work closely with him as my constituency neighbour and good friend".

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