AS YET another Labour MP quit the party in disgust over Brexit and anti-semitism, leading Bournemouth Tory Tobias Ellwood has spoken out about the turmoil in his own party, amidst claims that three Conservatives are on the point of joining the Independent Group.

Speaking to Sky News, the Defence Minister warned Conservative eurosceptics they were "tarnishing" the party, and attacked the European Research Group (ERG) of Conservative Brexiteers. He claimed their actions, threatened to "poison" the party.

Mr Ellwood suggested it would be difficult for him to remain in the Conservative Party if the ERG's "viewpoint" took prominence. Chaired by arch-Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg, the ERG has rejected the prime minister's EU withdrawal agreement and has since pressured the government to keep a no-deal Brexit as an option.

Mr Ellwood told Sky News: "There are many of us who normally would not be commenting in public about a wing of our party or, indeed, individuals themselves."