Quite so. BoJob was hoping to re-instate all 21 bastards. Helps to confirm my own suspicion though - that the 21 "rebels" debacle was just theatre and part of the Conservatives strategy for ensuring that a No Deal Brexit is never implemented. Yeah yeah, tin hat. I'm comfortable with my theory. Remember that Spelman also rebelled but for some reason did not lose the whip!
Why? Spelman is essential to the Remain plan and she needed to be a full member of the Tory Party to perform her role. Or more likely, she refused to accept the loss of whip. Either way, twenty-one rebels expelled was good enough press for BoJob's purposes and Spelman not losing the whip was manageable.
Since you mention it https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-43245969 It seems to be another old white bloke paranoia?
What was the name of that Labour fixer guy who was convicted of voter fraud? You know, the guy who handled the LP candidate in the recent Peterborough by-election?
They can refuse if the whole thing is a scam and a PR exercise. "Look, BoJob is a true Leaver, he sacked those twenty-one rebels! Brexit is surely safe in his hands! No need for a Brexit Party now!"
I don't think MPs can refuse the loss of the whip at all. It might well have been a PR exercise, or Blojob losing his temper and not thinking it all through, hence the U turn.
I think the reference in regards to electoral fraud in Peterborough was in regards to Tariq Mahmood, 51, a numberplate salesman and former taxi company owner who received a 15-month sentence for his part in a “systematic campaign of electoral fraud” in 2008. He had denied involvement in the campaign to elect Lisa Forbes. This followed a complaint I believe as he was a highly visible member of the Forbes campaign and Tariq Mahmood not only campaigned with the party’s candidate in the by-election but also was called the mastermind by activists
44 MPs from all parties already declared their intention to stand down at the election. https://order-order.com/2019/10/29/mps-standing-next-election/