Brexit: Pro-Remain Tory MP Dominic Grieve escapes deselection proceedings despite losing confidence vote

Association tells MP to play ‘positive role’ in securing Brexit

Conservative MP Dominic Grieve will not face deselection proceedings despite losing a confidence motion at his Beaconsfield Constituency Association in March.

Jackson Ng, chair of the Conservative association, wrote a letter to Mr Grieve which was also sent to all association members.

“The Executive Council has decided that this is not the moment to commence such procedures as it serves no constructive purpose,” Mr Ng said in the letter.

The chair noted that Mr Grieve had served the constituency loyally for 22 years, but warned the MP that “no one can take the loyalty and continued support of our members for granted”.

Although Mr Grieve, a pro-Remain Conservative, has escaped deselection, it is clear that the association expects him to support Brexit.

“The overwhelming view of our membership is that the government must deliver Brexit and respect the views of the voters in the referendum,” Mr Ng wrote.

“The view of our association membership is that they profoundly wish for you to play a more positive role in the coming months on this matter.

“We feel it is crucial that you should do so.”

Video footage from the March confidence vote appeared to show some constituency members calling Mr Grieve a “traitor” and a “liar”.

Mr Grieve lost by 182 to 131 votes and later said he had faced an “orchestrated campaign” calling for his deselection.

When he tried to explain the political consequences of leaving the EU at the meeting, angry Brexiteers heckled him with calls of “lies” and “rubbish”.

At the time Conservative Party chairman Brandon Lewis expressed his support and said the vote had no formal standing under party rules.

Boris Johnson and former chancellor George Osborne also voiced support for the embattled politician.

The South Buckinghamshire region, which includes Mr Grieve’s Beaconsfield constituency, narrowly voted to Leave in the 2016 referendum by a majority of just 570 votes.