Leave-voting Tory MP quits over May’s approach to Brexit

Conservative MP Stephen Phillips has quit the House of Commons, citing “irreconcilable policy difference with the current government”.

The MP for Sleaford and North Hykeham had voted to leave the EU in the Brexit referendum, but has recently called on Prime Minister Theresa May to ensure the UK remains in the single market.

“It has been a great honour to serve the people of Sleaford and North Hykeham for the last six years, but it has become clear to me over the last few months that my growing and very significant policy different with the current government means that I am unable properly to represent the people who elected me,” he said. “This decision has been a difficult one and I hope that everyone will respect the fact that I have tried to act in the best interests of all of my constituents.”

However, in a letter to his constituency chairman, Phillips attacked the government for “shirking” responsibility for unaccompanied child refugees and changes in the way international aid is spent.

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

His resignation will trigger a by-election in the seat of Sleaford and North Hykeham, where he had won by a majority of over 24,000 at last year’s general election. Although he represents a safe Conservative seat, his surprise departure increases the pressure on May’s government – which has a working majority of 17 MPs.

He is the second Conservative MP to stand down in as many weeks, after Zac Goldsmith resigned over his opposition to the proposed expansion of Heathrow airport.

Labour said that the impending by-election to replace Phillips would be “more about Tory failure and in-fighting than what is in the best interests of the country”.

“It’s clear that even Theresa May’s own MPs realize that she has failed to lay out a convincing plan to deliver for Britain,” national campaign co-ordinator John Trickett said.

Asked about the resignation during a visit to Berlin, foreign secretary Boris Johnson suggested it was part of the prevailing “sturm und drang” (storm and stress) over Brexit – a reference to the movement of 18th Century German writers who gave free expression to emotions and ideas that sought to break with tradition.