A DORSET MP has said he won't be supporting Boris Johnson's call for a general election to break the Brexit deadlock because: "a people versus parliament type election" would create "machete wounds all over us."
Tory MP for North Dorset Simon Hoare said he was prepared to vote against Boris Johnson on the issue because: "I don't see how a people versus parliament type election is in any way going to add to the aspiration for re-uniting the country and bringing the whole country together. It just creates machete wounds all over us and it could turn very nasty and bitter with the potential for violence."
There’s deep disquiet across the Party at the handling of this issue of the Whip. We can’t win unless our base is broad and representative of all strands of opinion. No10 needs to rethink and fast. I think we are better being like Churchill and NOT Stalin #toriesdontpurge https://t.co/3pwr1rsbr6
— Simon Hoare Esq., MP (@Simon4NDorset) September 5, 2019
Mr Hoare did support his party leader in Tuesday evening's crunch vote to try and prevent Remainers taking control of parliamentary business in an effort to stop a No Deal Brexit.
However, he said he had only sided with the government after speaking to the Prime Minister.
"I wanted to ascertain some questions about the way the government was dealing with the negotiations and if they had carved out sufficient time to legislate for it and the answers to those were clear enough to get me into the government lobby," he said. "If they hadn't been as clear as they were I would probably have not been in the government lobby and there would be two of us in Dorset without the whip today," he said, referring to Remainer rebel MP for West Dorset Oliver Letwin.
Poole's Brexiteer MP Sir Robert Syms did support the government vote and claimed that Speaker John Bercow had "disregarded the standing orders of the Commons" to allow it to happen.
He said he believed a general election was likely either before or just after Christmas. "I think we're heading for general election, I just don't know when it would be," he said adding that "October looks difficult".
Meanwhile Bournemouth MP Tobias Ellwood has been the subject of a furious backlash after voting with the government on Tuesday.
The member for Bournemouth East has repeatedly spoken out against No Deal.
However, when it came to the crunch Commons vote at 10pm it transpired that instead of supporting his 21 colleagues who were prepared to see the party whip withdrawn, Mr Ellwood supported Boris Johnson.
Jacob my friend - FE Smith would be proud of what you’ve achieved.
— Tobias Ellwood MP (@Tobias_Ellwood) September 3, 2019
But this really is not a good look... pic.twitter.com/LGl52n3gzk
The Commons voted 328 to 301 to take control of the agenda, allowing them to bring a bill requesting a Brexit delay.
One constituent, Simon Kavanagh, took to Twitter to berate Mr Ellwood. "I'm appalled that you are representative of what happened yesterday and the manner in which you voted - how on earth did you arrive at that conclusion?" he said. "What many have long seen as the home of the arrogant, self-entitled, disrespectful and idle is confirmed. Indefensible."
He was responding to an image tweeted by Mr Ellwood of Jacob Rees-Mogg lounging on the chamber's green benches.
However, most of those who responded to the tweet were more interested in why Mr Ellwood had not supported the rebel alliance.
Michelle Dower, whose Twitter handle is @bournemouthburd told the MP he should be ashamed of himself for: "Supporting this dangerous government of liars and charlatans."
And Andy James @AndyJames74 asked: "What happened to Remainer Tobias Ellwood, why did he not vote along with the other 21?"
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