WINCHESTER'S MP is facing an uncertain political future after joining the ranks of Tory rebels.

Steve Brine, MP for Winchester and Chandler's Ford, along with Romsey and Southampton North MP Caroline Nokes, backed a motion on Tuesday night to seize control of the parliamentary agenda in order to ensure a no-deal Brexit and seek a delay until January 2020 if there was no deal.

As a result, both face being expelled from the Conservative party – known as losing the whip. According to multiple reports, the government was in the process of removing the whip, although there was no confirmation either Mr Brine or Ms Nokes had been expelled.

Following the drama in Westminster, Mr Brine issued a statement. He said: "This week’s battle in Parliament was always going to come but the basic fact is we live in a parliamentary democracy in this country and no Government, should forget that.

“There has never been a majority in the House for no-deal, nor has there ever been a realistic chance of a radically new deal from Brussels. This has been clear for months, and while I wanted to give him a chance, from my personal as well as private exchanges this week with the Prime Minister. It is why the ‘do or die’ 31st October promise was never realistic and only really meant one thing.

“The unnecessary proroguing of Parliament and the bullying tactics of this week only served to convince me that was the case and it was time to stand up and be counted.

“No-deal, far from allowing us to move on and put Brexit behind us as claimed, would resolve nothing and is only a recipe for further uncertainty and delay while causing significant damage to our economy, businesses that employ my constituents, trade with our largest market, the rights of EU citizens and that’s before we even start to consider the consequences for our United Kingdom. I just cannot support that.

“Despite voting to remain myself, I believe we must leave the EU. I am a democrat and I firmly believe that the result of the referendum should be honoured.

“I voted to trigger Article 50 and on three occasions for the perfectly sensible withdrawal agreement unlike many members of the current Cabinet. If MPs from other parties had put partisan self interest aside the UK would have left the EU on March 29.

“Representing a divided constituency, in a divided country, is an almost impossible task but you have to find the common threads and my judgement is for consensus around respecting the vote but not for no deal.

“I know some will agree with my decision and others will feel bitterly let down but I have learned in almost a decade doing this job that, in politics, you have little if you don’t have your integrity and do what you think is right. That matters to me.

“I remain a proud one-nation Conservative and fully back so much this Government is doing, things such as the massive increase in school and college funding I have long campaigned for. But we have a major difference of opinion on how we safely leave the EU and I am confident this is one chapter in a long history of my party.

“To say my mind has been in turmoil in recent days and throughout Summer recess would be an understatement but I have always put my constituency and my country above my own self-interest and I will go on doing that as our MP for as long as Winchester and Chandler’s Ford allows me.”

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has now vowed to seek a snap general election, which will require the support of two-thirds of MPs and could take place October 14.

Jonathan P. Legat, Chairman, Winchester Conservative Association, emailed members: "It is with regret that I acknowledge Steve Brine MP has lost the Conservative Party whip.  He is therefore no longer a Conservative MP and is ineligible to stand as a Conservative Parliamentary Candidate.

"I would like to thank Steve for all his hard work representing Winchester over the last nine years.  He has been a hard working and dedicated MP and I wish him the very best for the future.

"Together with the Officers of the Association, I am monitoring events as they unfold and making preparations for selecting a new Conservative Parliamentary Candidate.  These will involve holding an Extraordinary Executive Council meeting followed by a Special General Meeting for all eligible members, to elect by ballot our candidate, the dates of which will be announced in due course."