Nick Boles resigns from Conservative party after Norway plus motion defeated

'I accept I have failed'

Nick Boles resigned the Conservative party whip on Monday evening after his Norway plus motion was rejected in another series of indicative votes. This means he will no longer be part of the Tory party nor forced to vote in line with them. His motion, which proposed participating in a customs arrangement with the EU and remaining in the single market was rejected by a very fine margin. https://twitter.com/PoliticsJOE_UK/status/1112823700162842624 On his resignation, he announced to the House of Commons: "I've given everything in an attempt to find a compromise. I accept I have failed. I have failed chiefly because my party refuses to compromise. I regret therefore to announce I can no longer sit for this party." https://twitter.com/PoliticsJOE_UK/status/1112831314208677892 His colleagues around him reacted in shock, with calls of "Don’t go Nick" heard from around the Tory benches.