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Former Conservative MP Sam Gyimah joins Lib Dems

Former Conservative MP Sam Gyimah has joined the Liberal Democrats.

Sam Gyimah
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Six MPs have defected to the party in recent weeks, including former Tory MP Philip Lee, and ex-Labour MPs Luciana Berger and Chuka Umunna.

Mr Gyimah was one of the 21 Tories who had the Conservative whip removed after rebelling against Boris Johnson in a bid to prevent a no-deal Brexit.

Last December, the East Surrey MP quit as science and universities minister in a row over Theresa May’s Brexit deal.

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The 43-year-old briefly stood in the race to become Conservative Party leader after Mrs May quit.

The Lib Dems currently have 18 MPs, having been boosted by a victory in the Brecon and Radnorshire by-election and the defections.

In an interview with the Observer, Mr Gyimah said he was “an outcast in the Conservative party”, adding: “But that’s Brexit. It has divided families. The country is divided. This is a huge fault line.”\

He said: “I’ve been involved in the Conservative party for two decades. I’ve fought for the party. I have an unusual background – I’m not your typical Tory recruit.

“I’ve spent a long time evangelising about why people should look at the Conservative party seriously. It is sad that I find myself at a crossroads.”

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