Boris Johnson could readmit expelled Tories who have voted with government

Olive branch may not be extended to exiled Conservatives who have tried to block PM's Brexit plans

(Reuters)

Some of the 21 Conservative rebels stripped of the whip last month could soon be readmitted to the party, a senior Tory source has said.

But MPs who have continued voting against the government - such as former chancellor Philip Hammond and former attorney general Dominic Grieve - may not be offered an olive branch.

If a December election is approved by parliament this week, it will be “crunch time” for the party to decide whether to let the MPs stand for election under the Conservative banner, said the source.

But a decision on readmission will depend on individual MPs’ record in key Brexit votes since the mass expulsion.

The source declined to name which MPs may be offered the opportunity to stand again as Tories, insisting that this would be a matter for chief whip Mark Spencer.

But he said: “It is clear that there has been a ladder to climb for those 21. Some have taken the action to climb that ladder, some have not.

“Some parliamentarians have done their best to pass the Brexit deal and the means to get Brexit done. Others have consistently undermined the necessary measures.

“It is coming up to crunch time.”

Key factors in deciding whether Tory exiles will be allowed to stand will include their decisions on key votes including the so-called “Letwin amendment” which deferred approval of Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal, and the later second reading and timetable motion on the bill to ratify it.

Among those voting with the government who might expect a reasonably smooth route back to the Tory fold are Steve Brine, Greg Clark, Stephen Hammond, Margot James, Caroline Nokes and Ed Vaizey.

Others, including Guto Bebb, Richard Benyon, Alastair Burt, Kenneth Clarke, Justine Greening, Richard Harrington, Oliver Letwin, Nicholas Soames and Rory Stewart have said they will not stand at the next election, while Sam Gyimah has ruled out a return by joining the Liberal Democrats.

But it seems unlikely there will be any prospect of a route back for Mr Grieve, who has been one of the most vocal parliamentary opponents of Brexit.

Dominic Grieve has questioned why the report has not been released. (AFP/Getty)

(AFP/Getty)Philip Hammond has said he is considering standing as an independent against Tories in the election, and his record of voting for the Letwin amendment and against the Withdrawal Agreement Bill’s programme motion may bar him from the restoration of the whip.

Also facing possible obstacles to their return are former justice secretary David Gauke and former home secretary Amber Rudd - who quit the Tory whip in protest at the expulsions - both of whom backed the Letwin Amendment. Anne Milton voted against the programme motion and Antoinette Sandbach voted against the government on both the Letwin Amendment and the programme motion.