Stephen Phillips on why he’s quit:

“Some will label me a quitter, or, no doubt, worse. Those are labels with which I can live. The label Conservative no longer is.”

Guido has got hold of the letter sent by outgoing Tory MP Stephen Phillips to his local association. Phillips lays into the direction of the government under Theresa May, slamming her over child refugees and international aid. He finishes with the quite remarkable admission:

“Some will label me a quitter, or, no doubt, worse. Those are labels with which I can live. The label Conservative no longer is.”

So he is quitting the Tory party as well as parliament. Resigning to spend more time with his five figure per month QC salary…

Tory MP Stephen Phillips is resigning from parliament. Phillips is an odd one, a Leaver who has become a help to those trying to obstruct Brexit since the referendum, publicly complaining that the government is avoiding parliamentary scrutiny of Brexit. He is quitting with immediate effect:

You read it here first…

Rumour: Tory MP Stephen Phillips to resign and force a by-election over Brexit

— Guido Fawkes (@GuidoFawkes) November 4, 2016