Theresa May tells quitting MPs the Conservative Party is not ‘warped’ like Labour

Theresa May has insisted the Conservative party has not become “warped” after three resigning MPs accused it of being in the control of zealots.

In an open letter to Anna Soubry, Sarah Wollaston and Heidi Allen – all of whom quit the Tories on Wednesday – the PM rejected any comparisons between her party and Labour.

In a letter to May announcing their resignations, the trio claimed former Ukip members – described as a “purple Momentum” in a reference to Labour's army of supporters – is “subsuming the Conservative Party, much as the hard left has been allowed to consume and terminally undermine the Labour party”.

In her response, May said an “open, broad party” should always welcome new members “including those who have previously supported other parties.”

She added: “I was sorry to read, and do not accept, the parallel you draw with the way Jeremy Corbyn and the hard left have warped a once-broad Labour Party and allowed the poison of antisemitism to go unchecked.”

May also used the letter to defend her Brexit policy – cited as the “final straw” by the trio of quitters as they weighed up whether to leave the party.

The Prime Minister said: “Like you, I was one of the 48 per cent of people who voted to remain in the EU — but I believe very firmly that it is the duty of all of us in Parliament, particularly those of us who voted to hold the referendum and promised to abide by its result, to deliver what the majority of people voted for.”

May hosted two Conservative MPs in Downing Street rumoured to be the next Tories to quit the party.

Former education secretary Justine Greening and ex-justice minister Phillip Lee were invited it for talks – after having claimed May was only reaching out to those on the hard Brexit wing of the party.

While the PM was dealing with party issues in Downing Street, her Brexit secretary Stephen Barclay and attorney general Geoffrey Cox held talks in Brussels with the EU’s chief negotiator Michel Barnier.

A Brexit department spokesperson said: “They discussed the positions of both sides and agreed to focus on what we can do to conclude a successful deal as soon as possible. It was agreed that talks should now continue urgently at a technical level.

“The Secretary of State and the Attorney General will discuss again with Michel Barnier early next week. The AG will also explore legal options with the Commission’s team.”