15 of the Conservatives’ 19 MEPs will be bidding an early farewell to their Brussels expense allowances after the Tory bloodbath in the EU elections last month. The Tories’ leader in the European Parliament Ashley Fox was one of the many who got the chop – he’s produced this endearingly retro farewell video featuring The Communards’ 1988 version of Never Can Say Goodbye. Brexiteers will be hoping that doesn’t become the soundtrack to Brexit…

It all got too much for Remainer Ashley Fox…

Today is the Ides of March and Europhile Tory MEPs are preparing for the referendum aftermath. Syed Kamall backed Brexit despite intense pressure from Downing Street to join the Remainers. Now Kamall’s enemies among the 20 strong group of Tories – most of whom are Remainers – are circling. Ashley Fox is positioning himself to take over, according to Politico Europe, though others tell Guido it is actually being driven by Charles Tannock (who also ran against Syed for Chair of the ECR political group) and the Tory MEPs who favour remaining in the EU. Sajjad Karim is also said to be involved, though his LibDem roots may hold his personal ambitions back. If the Leavers win Syed will play a crucial role in the Brexit negotiations, if the Remainers win there will be a concerted effort to oust him from his leadership role…

UPDATE: Ashley Fox MEP would like us to point out that he is a friend of Syed Kamall and loves him very much.