BREXIT CASUALTY Leave-supporting Tory MP Stephen Phillips sensationally QUITS over the Government’s approach to Brexit

A TORY MP who backed Leave in the EU referendum has sensationally quit this morning over the Government’s approach to Brexit.

Stephen Phillips, who is also a QC, said he has “irreconcilable policy differences” with Theresa May over her approach to leaving the EU.

PA

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Tory MP Stephen Phillips has sensationally quit the Commons

The news is a hammer blow to the Prime Minister a day after a bombshell legal ruling left her timetable for taking us out of Europe in tatters.

Mr Phillips, who has repeatedly called for Theresa May to reveal her Brexit plan to Parliament before beginning the formal process of leaving the European Union, said he was “unable to properly represent” his constituents.

He has previously warned against the “tyranny” of denying MPs a vote on the Government’s stance in forthcoming Brexit negotiations.

GETTY IMAGES

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The shock announcement is further bad news for Theresa May’

Yesterday Parliament was awarded the opportunity to have their say, after judges decided Mrs May cannot trigger Article 50 herself.

But the Government announced it is appealing the ruling, a decision which has clearly angered Mr Phillips enough he is standing down.

In a statement, Mr Phillips said: “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 differences with the current Government mean that I am unable properly to represent the people who elected me.

He added: “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.”

A Conservative Party spokesman said: “Stephen Phillips has been a valuable member of Parliament since 2010 and we are sorry that he has chosen to step down.

“We thank him for his hard work and we wish him every success in the future.”

• Who is Stephen Phillips? Everything you need to know about the QC

REUTERS

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There will have to be a by-election in his Lincolnshire constituency

The PM is spending today in an urgent round of telephone diplomacy as she tries to restore her grip on Brexit after the shock legal decision to block her from triggering Article 50.

She is calling European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker in a bid to persuade continental leaders the explosive legal case would not shake her from the pledge formally launch Brexit by April next year.

But Mrs May will now have to contend with another damaging resignation by one of her MPs, after  Zac Goldsmith stood down over Heathrow expansion last month.

His resignation will trigger a by-election in his Sleaford and North Hykeham seat, where the 46-year-old had a majority of more than 24,000 at last year’s general election.

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The Leave-supporting 46-year-old said he was unable to stay in Parliament

Last month Mr Phillips called for an urgent debate in the House of Commons on the matter, insisting that bypassing Parliament was “simply not an acceptable way for the executive to proceed”.

He told Speaker John Bercow in a letter: “I and many others did not exercise our vote in the referendum so as to restore the sovereignty of this Parliament only to see what we regarded as the tyranny of the European Union replaced by that of a Government that apparently wishes to ignore the views of the House on the most important issue facing the nation.”

Mrs May’s Government had “no authority or mandate to adopt a negotiating position without reference to the wishes of the House and those of the British people expressed through their elected representatives”, he added.

SWNS

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The chairman of Sleaford and North Hykeham Tories said he was “disappointed” at Mr Phillips’ decision

The chairman of Mr Phillips’ local Conservative Association, George Clark, said the constituency party was “disappointed” at his resignation and backed the “strong” Prime Minister.

In a letter to him Mr Clark wrote: “Thank you for your letter of November 3 informing us of your decision to stand down as the Member of Parliament for Sleaford and North Hykeham.

“We were disappointed to receive it, and are sorry that you have reached this decision.

“On behalf of the Sleaford and North Hykeham Conservative Association, and the many local people you have helped during your six years as our Member of Parliament, let me thank you for the service you have given our community, and send our best wishes to you for the future.”