Whitehall farce as Tory returns to fold

Semi-detached rebel: Sir Richard Body 'temporarily' accepts Government whip

COLIN BROWN

Chief Political Correspondent

There was no white coat, but distinct signs of flapping within the Government last night over the restoration of the whip to the Tory Euro-rebel Sir Richard Body.

The veteran MP for Holland with Boston caused confusion and a set-back for John Major after saying he had accepted the whip "temporarily" and could resign again if he is not satisfied with assurances about European fishing policy.

Sir Richard was officially welcomed back to the fold at a lunch at 12 Downing Street by Alastair Goodlad, the Government chief whip.

Mr Major, who once said he heard "the flapping of white coats" every time he heard Sir Richard's name, diplomatically stayed two doors away in No 10.

Mr Goodlad later issued a statement saying Sir Richard was "in receipt of the whip". The whips breathed a sigh of relief that the Government's wafer-thin majority had been increased.

Unaware of this, Sir Richard issued a statement saying that he had not taken the whip, although he promised to support the Government in votes where he could. Five minutes later, Sir Richard, after consulting the whips' office, issued a new statement that he had "temporarily" accepted the whip.

The confusion technically meant John Major's Commons majority yo-yoed from five to three and back again within less than an hour.

Sir Richard made clear his continued support would depend on the legality of Government assurances about protection for British fishermen.

The "will-he-won't-he?" farce left ministers exasperated and Labour jubilant. Robin Cook, Labour's foreign affairs spokes-man, said it was a "personal humiliation for John Major".

Mr Cook added that despite the assurances by the Government chief whip that Sir Richard would take the Tory whip, it was clear that Sir Richard was making his support conditional on further concessions to his Euro- sceptic views.