A BOURNEMOUTH MP has attacked his Conservative colleague, mirroring the dramatic split which occurred in the party yesterday.

Just hours after the bombshell news that three anti-Brexit MPs had quit to join the new Independent Group, MP for Bournemouth West, Conor Burns, appeared to slate Tory colleague and Bournemouth East MP, Tobias Ellwood.

ITV political editor Robert Peston claimed on Thrusday that Mr Ellwood was one of nine minsiters who "in two separate meetings told Theresa May they would quit if she does not take a no-deal Brexit off the table". 

Mr Ellwood had told Sky news that Conservative Eurosceptics were "tarnishing" the party, and he claimed the actions of the European Research Group of Conservative Brexiteers threatened to "poison" it.

He also suggested it would be difficult for him to remain in the party if the ERG's "viewpoint" took prominence.

A number of Dorset Tory MPs have been closely associated with the group. Christchurch MP Christopher Chope is close to leading ERG member Jacob Rees-Mogg. And MP for Mid Dorset and North Poole, Michael Tomlinson, was the group's deputy chairman back in 2017. Conor Burns, who has described himself as on the fringe of the group, is a strong supporter of leading Brexiteer and ERG member Boris Johnson.

Speaking about the breakaway MPs he said: “It’s always sad when any colleague who has given service to the party decides they no longer wish to be in it but I do find it somewhat bizarre that all three of them are citing a policy on Europe which was explicitly in the manifesto on which they stood in the 2017 general election.”

He dismissed as ‘nonsense’ comments made in the resignation letter from Anna Soubry, Heidi Allen and Sarah Wollaston, in which they slammed Theresa May’s failure to: ‘stand up to the hardline ERG which operates as a party within a party, with its own leader, whip and policy’.

“This party within a party idea is total nonsense - the ERG are a group of colleagues who support the policy we stood on in 2017 and want to see the result of the referendum cleanly implemented,” said Mr Burns.

Asked about Mr Ellwood’s views he said: “The people who say that are the people who talk all sorts of nonsense about battles for the soul of the party - there is a lot more that defines a politician and where they come from than their view on the European Union. Being in favour of EU institutions and against the result of a referendum doesn’t automatically lead you to be decent and tolerant.”

He then cited, as an example, his support for the Same Sex Marriage Bill.” Others who are on Sky News did not support that bill so who has the claim to decency and liberalism there?”

Asked if relations between him and Mr Ellwood were frosty he said: “I enjoy good working relationships with all my Dorset colleagues.”

Mr Ellwood did not respond to calls from the Bournemouth Echo.

North Dorset MP Simon Hoare said he was ‘disappointed but not surprised’ about the defections but hoped other colleagues wouldn’t follow suit.

“I see the Tory party as a broad family and it’s a bit like a bereavement,” he said.

MP for Mid Dorset and North Poole Michael Tomlinson said: "The Conservative Party is a broad church and I am saddened that three former colleagues have felt the need to make the decision to resign. However they have for some time been out of step with our manifesto commitment to leave the EU, and so I understand why they have made this decision."

MP for Dorset South Richard Drax said: "It is my job to get on with delivering the will of the British people which is to get us out of the EU, ideally with a deal.”