Our party contains multitudes – and should embrace conservatives from across the ideological spectrum.
It’s not just about there being more Tory MPs. There has been a remarkable clearout of the establishment figures.
By creating a kind of firewall between her take on Brexit and her view of everything else, she has kept her head at a time when too many others are losing theirs.
She claims that there has been entryism – though the relationship between MP and activists has been bad for some time.
The start of the debate on the Queen’s Speech showed how the general election will be fought.
Steve Brine and Greg Clark, who have also been deprived of the whip, voted with the Government – which lost by 289 votes to 306.
Mark Spencer has reportedly rung round to inform them that they have lost the Whip.
Margot James resigned as a minister following her rebellion. Meanwhile, the Chancellor joined Gauke and Clark in failing to support the Government.
Gove, Stewart and perhaps others too could see their standing and prospects damaged this afternoon.
Plus: I’m still backing Brexit. The Independent Group’s Tory targets. And: it’s a disgrace that public money is being spent on the European elections.
It passed its Third Reading by a single vote. Now the former Labour Minister’s anti-No Deal Bill is off to the Lords.
Even the image depletes our stock of goodwill – both among our EU neighbours and among potential trade partners elsewhere.