Tory Brexit rebels SUSPENDED... Now David Davis tells Corbyn 'AXE YOURS TOO'

South West MEP Julie Girling and South East MEP
Richard Ashworth were stripped of the Tory whip last
night after supporting a resolution in Strasbourg to
stall Brexit negotiations.
Brexit Secretary David Davis has now written to
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn urging him to remove the
whip from 18 Labour MEPs who also backed the
European Parliament’s vote to block the Brexit
process.
He has also written to Lib Dem leader Sir Vince Cable.
In his letter to Mr Corbyn, Mr Davis said: “This non-
binding vote by the European Parliament sends a
signal about the importance each side attaches to
agreeing a future partnership.
“The Conservative Party therefore instructed our MEPs
to vote against the motion and in favour of the UK’s
national interest, and have removed the whip from
those who refused to do so.
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“While I would not expect opposition political parties
to agree with us all the time about the end state we
seek, it is a self-evident part of the national interest to
support a discussion about our future relationship with
Europe.
“So I was disappointed that 18 Labour MEPs voted
against moving the negotiations on to the next stage.
“Will you follow suit and take action against the MEPs
from your party who voted against the best future for
the UK and the EU, or is this the official position of
the Labour Party?”
South West MEP Julie Girling was axed after
supporting a resolution in Strasbourg to stall Brexit
The whip was removed following consultation between
European Parliament chief whip Dan Dalton and
Downing Street.
It means the rogue MEPs have been effectively
banished by the party.
It comes after the pair backed a resolution last week
that would delay Brexit talks progressing to trade
discussions.
Although the vote is advisory, it comes despite signs
of renewed momentum in the wake of the Prime
Minister’s speech in Florence last month.
The resolution calls for trade talks not to begin until
Britain makes major concessions over Northern Ireland,
the EU “divorce” bill and the European Court.
It calls for the European Court to “remain the sole and
competent authority for enforcing and interpreting EU
law and the withdrawal agreement” for millions of
European citizens living in Britain.
Theresa May also axed South East MEP Richard
Ashworth
It also calls for Northern Ireland to remain within the
customs union and single market, and insists that
“substantial progress” be made on the financial
settlement “before entering into discussions on other
issues”.
In his letter to the two MEPs, chief whip Mr Dalton
said: “The Brexit negotiations are the most important
our country faces and reaching a new partnership with
the European Union is in the interests of both the UK
and the EU.
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“The resolution sought to delay progress in the
negotiations... It also proposed that one part of the
UK, Northern Ireland, could remain in the single market
and customs union, while the rest of the UK departs –
which is not acceptable.
“Given the seriousness of this issue, and your failure
to discuss your intention... in advance, I am
suspending the Conservative whip until further notice.”
David claimed he was disappointed that Labour MEPs
voted against moving Brexit negotiations forward
Ashworth, a former group leader, and Girling, a former
chief whip, broke ranks with the 21-strong group of
Conservative MEPs to back the resolution, tabled by
arch-EU federalist Guy Verhofstadt.
They were joined by the Labour MEPs, the only Lib
Dem, Plaid Cymru and Sinn Fein MEPs, and a Green
European parliamentarian.
A Government source said the withdrawal of the Tory
whip had been backed by Downing Street because the
MEPs had behaved “totally irresponsibly”.

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