Boris Johnson restores whip to ten Tory MPs expelled from party after rebelling over Brexit
Ten MPs who were expelled from the Conservative Party last month after rebelling over Brexit have had the whip restored, a party spokesman said.
The MPs who have had the whip restored are Alistair Burt, Caroline Nokes, Greg Clark, Richard Harrington, Ed Vaizey, Margot James, Richard Benyon, Stephen Hammond, Steve Brine and Winston Churchill's grandson Sir Nicholas Soames.
Those who have not had the whip restored are Guto Bebb, Ken Clarke, David Gauke, Justine Greening, Dominic Grieve, Philip Hammond, Oliver Letwin, Anne Milton, Antionette Sandbach, and Rory Stewart.
Amber Rudd would need to apply to have the whip restored as she resigned the whip herself.
Guto Bebb, Ken Clarke, Justine Greening, Dominic Grieve, Philip Hammond, Antoinette Sandbach voted for Stella Creasy's amendment earlier this evening to make it easier to put forward amendments to Boris' bill.
Former Minister for the Cabinet Office, Damian Green, tweeted: “Delighted that ten good colleagues are rejoining the Parliamentary Conservative Party. Still hope for more.”
A Conservative spokesman said Boris Johnson met with 10 of the 21 rebels in his Commons office on Tuesday evening.
He was said to have told them he always wanted to find a way for them to rejoin the party, and the 10 MPs accepted his offer to be readmitted.
"They have had the whip offered back to them, they have accepted the whip: they are Conservative Members of Parliament with the Tory whip," the spokesman added.
He said the decision was not a comment on the other 11 who have not had the whip restored.
Alistair Burt welcomed being one of the 10 Tory rebels readmitted to the parliamentary party.
After leaving the 1922 committee, he told reporters: “Back in the fold. It’s a big family and it’s very nice to have them back and I’m very appreciative.
“He (Boris Johnson) is a born campaigner, no doubt about that.”
Nick Boles MP tweeted: "I am genuinely happy for my friends. They did not deserve the brutal treatment they received. But, in case anyone is wondering, resigning from the Conservative Party was the best decision I’ve made since I gave up dating girls."
