Stephen Hammond was tonight sacked as Conservative Party vice chairman after rebelling against the government on the controversial Brexit Bill article 7 amendment.
The Wimbledon MP voted with Conservative rebels to guarantee parliament a final vote on the Brexit deal, in a humiliating loss for the government.
Just moments after the vote, Mr Hammond was fired from his vice chairman role by party whips.
Hearing Stephen Hammond – a leading Tory rebel in tonight’s vote – just sacked as a Vice Chairman of the Conservative party.
Number 10 is no longer in listening mode
— Sam Coates Times (@SamCoatesTimes) December 13, 2017
Mr Hammond defended his vote on Twitter, saying he put the country before the party.
Tonight I put country and constituency before party and voted with my principles to give Parliament a meaningful vote.
— Stephen Hammond MP (@S_Hammond) December 13, 2017
He is a notable Remainer in parliament, and was one of 15 Conservative MPs to feature on the Daily Telegraph’s controversial ‘The Brexit Mutineers’ front page.
Prominent Brexiteers vented their fury at Mr Hammond, and others who voted for the amendment tonight, with Unherd founder Tim Montgomerie calling for his deselection.
Hopefully, deselected soon https://t.co/mab2D2mxSp
— Tim Montgomerie ن (@montie) December 13, 2017
Mr Hammond was elected as Wimbledon MP in 2005, and retains a majority of 5,622.
