The decision of Anna Soubry, Sarah Wollaston and Heidi Allen to leave the Conservative party is the dominant story across Thursday’s UK front pages.
The Mirror called the event “Brexodus”, saying it was a sign of “Tories in Meltdown”. “The Tory party was in chaos last night”, wrote the paper, which said the “under-fire PM was braced for a further exodus”.
Thursday’s Daily MIRROR: “Brexodus” #bbcpapers #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/HT86ZaLoWe
— Allie Hodgkins-Brown (@AllieHBNews) February 20, 2019
The i’s splash was “Tories join the exodus”, reporting that the departures were “set to continue from both Tories and Labour – with more MPs ready to quit”. The paper also reported David Cameron’s criticisms of the direction the party has taken under Theresa May, saying “the country needs “modern, compassionate Conservatism”.
Thursday's front page: Cabinet ministers privately support exodus as 3 Tory MPs quit party #tomorrowspaperstoday #skypapers #bbcpapers pic.twitter.com/hMcveC8q5J
— i newspaper (@theipaper) February 20, 2019
The Guardian’s headline was “Now the Tories split: rebels denounce grip of hardliners”, focusing on the MPs’ comments that “Theresa May had allowed the party to fall prey to hardline Brexiters and that the Tory modernising project had been destroyed”.
The Guardian front page, Thursday 21 February 2019 | Now the Tories split: rebels denounce grip of hardliners pic.twitter.com/HyMy6DldpF
— The Guardian (@guardian) February 20, 2019
The Guardian reported the decision by the MPs to leave for the new Independent Group will have a considerable impact on political life in Britain, sending shockwaves through Westminster, reducing May’s “already tenuous working majority”, raising questions about her authority and providing “the latest evidence that Brexit is reshaping the political landscape”.
The Sun was apoplectic about the news, running the headline: “Split hits the fan”. The newspaper calls the women “Brexit haters” and “turncoats”, and featured a decidedly unflattering picture of Anna Soubry, unlike other papers which show her laughing. “The shock development,” wrote the paper, “slashed the embattled PM’s working Commons majority to just eight.”
Tomorrow's front page: Tories close to breaking point after Remainer MPs join Independent Group https://t.co/SdIl7Hnn8f pic.twitter.com/j6rQ35NcfK
— The Sun (@TheSun) February 20, 2019
The Daily Express was similarly unimpressed, featuring a photograph of Soubry, Allen and Wollaston smiling as they walked down the street under the headline: “No laughing matter”.
“At the 11th hour, these Remain MPs abandon the Tory party as May faces critical Brexit talks. But what on earth is there to smile about?” asked the paper, which also refered to the women as “Tory turncoats”.
Thursday’s Daily EXPRESS: “No Laughing Matter” #bbcpapers #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/HwUUvwmVoB
— Allie Hodgkins-Brown (@AllieHBNews) February 20, 2019
Some papers focused on the comment by Heidi Allen that “if we do our jobs right there won’t be a Tory Party to go back to”.
The Daily Telegraph’s splash was: “Tory defectors march out with a vow to destroy the party”. But the paper was dismissive of the clout of the “three amigos”, as the paper noted Soubry called them, running an opinion column by Rob Wilson under the headline: “Most Tories will not miss these three MPs who thought they were bigger than the party”.
Thursday’s Daily TELEGRAPH: “Tory defectors march out with a vow to destroy the party” #bbcpapers #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/UqSMFtKARL
— Allie Hodgkins-Brown (@AllieHBNews) February 20, 2019
The Daily Mail’s headline (“I want to kill off Tory party”) paraphrased Allen’s comments, and called them an “astonishing claim”. The Mail questioned the timings of the “bombshell resignations” which came “just as Theresa May prepared to enter a critical period that will determine whether she gets her Brexit deal over the line”.
Thursday’s @DailyMailUK #MailFrontPages pic.twitter.com/kGrrv5eAH8
— Daily Mail U.K. (@DailyMailUK) February 20, 2019
The Times led with David Cameron’s involvement in the matter, saying “David Cameron urged the three Conservative defectors to stay in the party hours before they quit and accused Theresa May of being taken hostage by hardline Brexiters”.
Thursday’s TIMES: “Cameron made late bid to halt Tory defections” #bbcpapers #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/i2AJRdGg87
— Allie Hodgkins-Brown (@AllieHBNews) February 20, 2019
The Financial Times was the only paper not to lead with the story of the newly independent MPs, but did feature a picture of the “Tory trio” on its front.
Just published: front page of the Financial Times, UK edition, Thursday 21 February https://t.co/1U8k5qpAIK pic.twitter.com/sIuOamogJo
— Financial Times (@FinancialTimes) February 20, 2019
