Tory whips launch probe after Antoinette Sandbach called 'disgrace' by male colleague
2 min read
Tory whips are to launch an investigation into messages sent to Antoinette Sandbach by a male colleague branding her a "disgrace"
The Eddisbury MP, who had backed Rory Stewart in the leadership campaign, revealed she had been urged to leave the party in what she described as "dark ops" just hours after Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt went through to the final leadership run-off.
In a now deleted tweet, Ms Sandbach showed a screenshot of the two messages which she claimed were sent by a male colleague.
"You too are a disgrace", the message read.
"Time you left the party I think."
Ms Sandbach said: "Barely is the ink dry on the results and the dark ops begin. This from a male Conservative MP to me as I sit on the train home #completewankspangle."
She added: "It's bad enough when you get it from complete strangers. Is it any wonder three female MPs left."
That was a reference to Heidi Allen, Anna Soubry and Sarah Wollaston quitting the Tories to join Change UK earlier this year following increasing tensions within the party over its approach to Brexit.
Ms Sandbach, who is a strong opponent to a no-deal Brexit, told the Press Association that she had made an official complaint about the comments which would be "dealt with internally".
Responding to her on Twitter, Conservative chief whip Julian Smith confirmed he would launch an investigation into the comments as he thanked her for support for the Government's Brexit plans.
He said: "Totally unacceptable - will investigate and meet Monday. Thank you for supporting the Withdrawal Agreement three times & for your support of HMG."
Meanwhile, leadership hopeful Jeremy Hunt tweeted his support for Ms Sandbach, saying: "This is so wrong! We have to come together as a party..."
It came as Tory minister Mark Field faced calls to resign for grabbing a female Greenpeace activist by the neck during a plush dinner in London.
Footage posted online by ITV political correspondent Paul Brand showed a furious Mr Field manhandling the protestor out of the event.
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