Stephen Hammond is fired as vice chair of Conservatives after joining the Brexit rebellion
Labour MPs jumped to the former Ministerial aide's defence branding the PM as 'vindictive'
TORY VETERAN Stephen Hammond was axed as vice chair of the Conservatives after joining the Brexit rebellion.
Within seconds of the result, the Tories confirmed the former Ministerial aide had been booted out of the role.
A source said: “It’s the inevitable result of voting against the Government on a three-line whip.”
A Conservative spokeswoman said: “Following tonight’s vote, Stephen Hammond has been removed from his position as a Vice-Chair of the Conservative Party.”
Last night, Stephen Hammond said: "I'm very disappointed to no longer be Vice Chairman of the Conservative Party for London.
"It was a huge honour and I'll continue to campaign across our capital in the run up to the Borough elections next year."
Labour MPs immediately leapt to his defence branding Theresa May “vindictive”.
Labour pro-EU campaigner Ben Bradshaw stormed: “Nasty behaviour by Theresa May. It shows she’s not interested in building consensus in country or Parliament.
Mr Hammond, MP for Wimbledon, was one of 15 ‘mutineers’ slammed last month for publicly criticising the Theresa May’s decision to put the Brexit date – 29 March 2019 - into legislation by adding it to the EU Withdrawal Bill.
A crunch Commons vote on that decision takes place next week with the Government facing another rebellion.
At the time Mr Hammond said: “I was elected to represent my constituents and act in the country’s best interest.”
