LONDON (dpa-AFX) – The British government under Prime Minister Liz Truss has contradicted reports that several members of the parliamentary group leadership of the Conservative ruling party resigned on Wednesday evening. Chief Whip Wendy Morton, who is responsible for maintaining group discipline, and her deputy Craig Whittaker are still in office, it was said late in the evening from the seat of government at 10 Downing Street.
This was preceded by chaotic scenes in parliament during a vote that the government had initially declared as a vote of confidence before rowing back at the last minute.
The motion by the opposition Labor Party was rejected by a large majority. But many Conservative MPs are said to have been extremely reluctant to vote against the initiative, which was intended to introduce legislation to ban fracking. There were also quite a few abstentions.
Labor MP Chris Bryant and other members of the opposition also accused Conservative MPs of being pushed in a certain direction, sometimes with shouts and shoves, and that they were not able to vote freely and unhindered. Economy Minister Jacob Rees-Mogg contradicted this representation./cmy/DP/he