April 2, 2019 2.53 pm This story is over 59 months old

“I’m not surprised” – Martin Hill on Nick Boles’ “bizarre” double resignation

Local Conservative Party chief “not surprised” by the move
Martin Hill, Vice President of Grantham Conservative Association, and Nick Boles MP.

The vice president of the Grantham Conservatives said it was “bizarre” for Nick Boles to continue as a Conservative MP after leaving the local association , but added he was not surprised he had now quit the national party.

The Grantham and Stamford MP resigned from the Conservative Party on Monday night after the failure of his own motion to stay in the single market.

He will now sit as an Independent Progressive Conservative as he “failed chiefly because my party refuses to compromise” over Brexit.

Last month Nick Boles also quit his local Conservative association.

Councillor Martin Hill, vice president of the local Conservative association and leader of Lincolnshire County Council, said: “I’m not totally surprised.

“He had already resigned from the local association, but at the same time bizarrely wanted to continue as a Conservative MP.

“He’s now going the whole hog and is going to stand as an independent, but I’m not surprised.”

Meanwhile, Conservative county councillor for Grantham North, Ray Wootten , said he was “frustrated” with Mr Boles on Brexit, but added he was not surprised by his decision.

The move has prompted people to react by calling for a by-election with many thanking Boles for resigning, although not everyone was on his side about his decision.

The proposal Boles put forward for a Common Market 2.0 would include membership of the European Union single market as well as a customs arrangement.

It lost by 282 votes to 261 during a meeting in the House of Commons on Monday, April 1.

Mr Boles announced following the vote that he would resign the Conservative whip and sit as an independent.

He said: “I am resigning the Conservative whip with immediate effect.

“The Conservative Party has shown itself to be incapable of compromise so I will sit as an Independent Progressive Conservative.”

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