Nineteen Conservative backbenchers spoke against the policy. It’s doubtful whether a top-down targets system will pass the Commons.
Philip Davies, a famously long-standing and committed Brexiteer, is among their number.
The logic of his position was that the UK was leaving by March 29th. It hasn’t changed. The Government’s has. So he’s gone.
Meanwhile, the Government has quietly been appointing more trade emissaries during the last few months.
That’s ten gone from the front bench or CCHQ – and it would be surprising were there not more today.
‘…the Brexit White Paper will inevitably put me in direct conflict with the views expressed by a large section of my constituents….’
It doesn’t seem to be complete yet, but here are as many of the appointments as have been released to date.
We open a ConservativeHome series, which will run each Monday during the election campaign, on the key contests in each region
We could increase the police budget by ten per cent and still have 90 per cent of the EU saving left for other priorities.
Downing Street had hoped that this generation would be more personally loyal to the Prime Minister.
The number of rebels has risen; it is concentrated among post-2005 intake Tories, and in seats that are either marginal or were until recently.
“A Great British take-off – that leaves no-one behind. That’s our dream – to help you realise your dreams.”
On the surface, this intake looks different from those that have preceded it – and is in some respects. But beneath it, this is in many ways a very traditional Tory group.
Get policy right, and our farmers and growers can, and will, innovate and seize the opportunities that change will undoubtedly bring.