EIGHT Conservative MPs were in effect expelled from their own party yesterday as a penalty for defying Prime Minister John Major and not voting in favour of the Government in the confidence vote on Europe.
The Government survived, but the row has provoked new levels of bitterness within Conservative ranks. A Labour attempt to block the bill granting enhanced payments to the European Union was defeated by 27 votes.
Eight Tory MPs abstained and were immediately sent a letter by the Chief Whip Richard Ryder telling them they would have the 'whip withdrawn' - that is, be removed from the parliamentary party.
The move is unprecedented in its scale this century and certainly marks a new low in Mr Major's leadership, coming as it did on the fourth anniversary of the downfall of Lady Thatcher.
Mr Major had sworn to stand down and force a general election if he did not get his way, but the threat was a high price to pay because the Government now finds itself in unknown territory, with its majority technically wiped out.
His problems will deepen further next month if, as expected, the Tories lose a by-election in Dudley, West Midlands.