Following Politico’s revelation that Anne Marie Morris MP has had the whip withdrawn, she’s since confirmed her sacking from the party. The whip’s move comes after Morris was the only Tory to rebel in favour of Labour’s energy motion yesterday. Despite plenty of government backbenchers on her side, most opposed Labour’s motion on the basis it took control of Commons procedure to force a change, handing control to the opposition. Morris says she regrets nothing:
“It is deeply disappointing to have had the Whip removed by the Government, especially on a matter of simply standing up for what I believed to be the best interests of my constituents.
[…]
I fully appreciate that the Government’s opposition to the motion was more to do with the way in which the Opposition worded the motion and parliamentary procedural technicalities of them taking over the order of business on a future day. To be clear, had that happened (unlikely given the Government’s majority) and the Opposition had tabled a Bill that I disagreed with, then I would have voted against it. Having said that, I’m afraid I believe that any disagreement over parliamentary procedure will always come second to standing up for the best interests of my constituents. People are struggling with their energy bills and action is needed and it’s needed now.”
This is of course the second time she’s lost the whip in five years… having said the n-word in 2017.
Conservative MP and ERG member Anne Marie Morris told Newsnight last night that she believes the 1922 Committee chairman has the required 48 letters from Conservative MPs in order to trigger a leadership contest. According to Morris, all it takes is for those Members who have handed in their letters to say that they can be used, and a contest begins.
“My belief… is that we do have the 48, and what depends on whether or not they can be used is whether or not those Members who have put them in give him the go ahead. He has them, but subject to [approval].”
Morris seems very confident in her assumption. Only time will tell…
Tory MP Anne Marie Morris continues her rehabilitation… subtlety never was her strong point.
“I would like to take this opportunity to apologise again for using such inappropriate and offensive language. The whip has been returned to me today. I feel proud and privileged to be a Conservative Member of Parliament and I will continue to serve my community and my country to the best of my ability.”
After months of lecturing Labour about how they deal with race row MPs and candidates, the Tories restore the whip to Anne Marie Morris…
UKIP will announce the winner of their leadership election this evening at their party conference. Most people think it has boiled down to a two-horse race, overnight betting has seen Peter Whittle become favourite (4/5) and Anne-Marie Waters move out to second favourite (5/4). Has something leaked from the Electoral Reform Society’s counting room?
This is an existential vote for UKIP, former leader Nigel Farage says the party is finished if anti-Islam Waters wins. Most of the MEPs say they will go independent and party officials tell Guido they will quit as well. We’ll know if the party is over in a few hours...
Theresa May statement:
“I was shocked to hear of these remarks, which are completely unacceptable. I immediately asked the Chief Whip to suspend the party whip. Language like this has absolutely no place in politics or in today’s society.”
Canned in under three hours. Inevitable.
