Guildford’s MP on List of Rebel Tories Facing Threat of Party Expulsion

Published on: 2 Sep, 2019
Updated on: 2 Sep, 2019

Rt Hon Anne Milton MP

Guildford’s MP, Anne Milton, is on a list of rebel Conservative MPs prepared to vote against the government and support legislation to prevent a no-deal Brexit. The list is said to have been compiled by ITV’s political editor Robert Peston.

Other Conservative Surrey MPs listed are former chancellor Phillip Hammond (Runnymede and Weybridge) and Sam Gyimah (East Surrey).

Today the BBC reported: “Anyone defying orders to vote with the leadership will lose the whip, effectively being expelled from the party and unable to stand again as a Tory candidate, a senior government source has told the BBC.”

Guildford’s three most recent general election results show large votes for Anne Milton. But will she be ousted as the Conservative candidate? – Image Wikipedia

A No 10 spokesman said it was treating this week’s Brexit votes as an issue of confidence, which traditionally triggers a general election if the government loses and speculation that the cabinet will consider calling another snap election is mounting.

One local Conservative told The Guildford Dragon: “It’s good the party is taking this matter seriously at the top. Disquiet among members in Guildford regarding Anne’s stance on Brexit should be easier to manage now they know Conservative Central Office is on their side.”

Ms Milton, a former government minister and deputy chief whip has declined to comment at this stage. She has enjoyed large majorities in the previous three general elections but now faces a dilemma.

Guildford voted 56% in favour of Remain in the 2016 EU referendum but the Guildford Conservative Association, made up of members in the Guildford parliamentary constituency, passed a motion at their AGM in March, according to one attendee, by four-to-one to keep no-deal on the table.

Ms Milton, who is on the record as saying a no-deal Brexit would be damaging, appears to have the choice of keeping most voters happy or most of her local party members. She was said to have reluctantly voted Remain in 2016 but did not campaign and was surprised by the size of the Leave vote in Guildford.

Responses to Guildford’s MP on List of Rebel Tories Facing Threat of Party Expulsion

Stuart Barnes Reply

September 2, 2019 at 4:43 pm

If she rebels she must go. We won the referendum three years ago and it is time that our decision is implemented. Obviously, it would be better to leave with a deal but not the Robbins non deal.
Jim Allen Reply

September 2, 2019 at 4:53 pm

Sadly, while an excellent MP at a local level, it seems dear Anne does not understand negotiating. Removing the no-deal option hamstrings the negotiators.
Adam Aaronson Reply

September 2, 2019 at 9:28 pm

“The first duty of a member of Parliament is to do what he thinks in his faithful and disinterested judgement is right and necessary for the honour and safety of Great Britain. His second duty is to his constituents, of whom he is the representative but not the delegate. Burke’s famous declaration on this subject is well known. It is only in the third place that his duty to party organization or programme takes rank. All these three loyalties should be observed, but there is no doubt of the order in which they stand under any healthy manifestation of democracy.” Sir Winston Churchill
Harry Elson Reply

September 3, 2019 at 12:37 pm

Let us not forget the Brexit party will stand in Guildford, so forget about the last election results the Tory vote will migrate to the Liberals and the Brexit party will take some of the Tory vote, so I am sure we will see a Liberal Democrat win.

It is a shame that Anne Milton has to suffer this fate but live by the sword, die by the sword.
Simon Schultz Reply

September 3, 2019 at 1:23 pm

Well done Anne Milton. I respect her principled stance, and hope that she follows through in today’s vote. Only a very small fraction of her constituency supports a destructive no-deal Brexit, and she is rightly deciding to act in the best interests of her constituency rather than a small number of radicalised local party members. The Churchill quote above is quite apt.
M Smith Reply

September 3, 2019 at 7:37 pm

It seems to me that after three years of Parliament trying to wriggle out of the commitment they gave to implement the result of the referendum we currently have a what will probably be fleeting opportunity to get it done before MPs find yet another excuse to put it off.

Ms Milton has been a good constituency MP so I would be saddened to vote against her, but any candidate who obstructs Brexit will never again get my vote.
Adam Aaronson Reply

September 3, 2019 at 10:09 pm

Negotiation styles have changed over the past twenty years. Crosstable browbeating and table-thumping have long been superseded by round table discussion and consensus-seeking.

Unfortunately, the Trumps and the Johnsons of this world believe in bringing back the dinosaur methods.

Is Boris Johnson really about to remove the whip from political giants like Dominic Grieve, Kenneth Clarke and Oliver Letwin as well as Anne Milton?

That’ll really show the EU not to mess with him because he means business, won’t it?
- Jules Cranwell Reply
  
  September 4, 2019 at 5:23 pm
  
  Anne Milton has done very little than sit on the fence over major issues. Unlike Sir Paul, she did nothing to rein in the Tories at GBC with their ruinous Local Plan.
  
  I do hope we don’t get a Lib Dem next time, as at GBC, they have been as bad as the Tories over the Local Plan, and the impact on the environment.
  
  It’s time for an Independent. Step forward R4GV and GGG.
Stuart Barnes Reply

September 3, 2019 at 10:49 pm

Anne Milton, after this betrayal, has no chance at the next general election. Has the Conservative party got a real Conservative candidate ready?

In any case, surely the Brexit party will stand, so perhaps we do not need another fake Conservative?
Lisa Wright Reply

September 4, 2019 at 8:34 am

I think Anne would probably win her seat if she stood as an Independent.
John Perkins Reply

September 4, 2019 at 10:29 am

Much as I dislike the party system, it’s the only game in town at the moment.

Anne Milton may be popular locally, but she would have little practical support and few funds. For her to win she would have to take most of the Conservative votes, including some who voted Leave. Not very likely, even if the Brexit Party doesn’t stand.

Her parliamentary career will end at the next election.
Tony Rooth Reply

September 4, 2019 at 10:17 pm

Well done Anne. She had the courage to rise above the bullying, threats and intimidation poured on her from above.

I was a member of the Conservative party for almost 50 years before resigning last year. The Tories have become rather a narrow, right-wing party obsessed by single issues like Brexit and unwilling to take account of views other than laid down by the inner circle.

I hope Anne Milton stands. She had a real job with over 20 years in the NHS before coming into politics. Most MPs nowadays are career politicians with little or no experience outside the Westminster bubble.

I will certainly campaign for her as an Independent who is prepared to represent Guildford and the UK rather than national party politics which is rotten to its core.

Tony Rooth is the Residents for Guildford and Villages borough councillor for Pilgrims
David W Wragg Reply

September 4, 2019 at 11:27 pm

Anne Milton has betrayed the electorate and her party. We have had the so-called “people’s vote” in the referendum and Parliament has had three years in which to debate the issue.

As prime minister, Mrs May refused to allow discussion about leaving the EU at Cabinet meetings, while the chancellor, Phillip Hammond, refused to allow money for no-deal” preparations until recently.