Sam Gyimah is the latest MP to join the Liberal Democrats
Former Tory MP Sam Gyimah has become the latest MP to join the Liberal Democrats.
The former Tory leadership hopeful was one of the 21 Tory MPs to have the whip removed for supporting a bill to block a n o-deal Brexit last week, which became law on Monday.
Read more: Liberal Democrats to vote on policy to revoke Article 50 at party conference
Gyimah, who joined the Lib Dems on the first day of its party conference in Bournemouth, said the Conservative party was “no longer the party I joined”.
“The removal of the whip was not a matter of discipline, it was a test of faith,” he said.
“And when I look across the House I see the same story on the Labour benches. Both parties have moved to the edges of the political spectrum – each with their own brand of intolerance and division.
“We can’t give the two old parties permission to silence and push moderates out of politics, when millions hold these values.”
Earlier in the month Phillip Lee crossed the floor of the House of Commons to join the Lib Dems, a move that left Boris Johnson without a majority.
Read more: Brexit: Tory MP Phillip Lee defects to Lib Dems during Boris Johnson speech
Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson said she was “over the moon” to welcome Gyimah to her party.
Gyimah’s move to the Lib Dems means the party now has 18 MPs.