Churchill’s Grandson Expelled from Conservative Party Over Brexit Challenge to Johnson

LONDON — Sir Nicholas Soames, the grandson of Britain’s World War II leader Winston Churchill, was expelled from the Conservative Party on September 3, 2019, after voting against Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Brexit strategy. The move marked an unprecedented purge of 21 Conservative Members of Parliament (MPs) who defied the government’s position on leaving the European Union without a formal deal.

Defiance Over No-Deal Brexit

The expulsion followed a dramatic parliamentary vote in which opposition lawmakers and rebel Conservatives united to seize control of the legislative agenda, effectively blocking Johnson’s push for a no-deal Brexit. Soames, a 71-year-old MP with 37 years of service in Parliament, was among those who voted to allow Parliament to legislate against a no-deal exit, a direct challenge to Johnson’s authority.

In a statement to the BBC, Soames acknowledged the consequences of his decision, saying, That’s fortunes of war. I knew what I was doing. He described the expulsion as a great pity but suggested it was a calculated move by Johnson’s government to force a general election. Soames, who had voted against the government only three times in his career prior to this incident, framed his defiance as a matter of principle, despite the personal and political cost.

Johnson’s Hardline Response

Johnson, who had been prime minister for just six weeks at the time, responded swiftly to the rebellion. A spokesman for his office confirmed that the chief whip would remove the party whip from the 21 MPs, effectively expelling them from the Conservative Party. The move was widely seen as an attempt to consolidate power and enforce party discipline ahead of a potential snap election.

The expulsions occurred on the 80th anniversary of Britain’s declaration of war on Nazi Germany, a date laden with historical significance. Churchill, who later became prime minister in 1940, was a staunch advocate for European unity, a fact noted by critics of Johnson’s Brexit strategy. Guy Verhofstadt, the European Parliament’s former Brexit negotiator, remarked that Sir Winston Churchill was a founding father of the European Union, convinced that only a united Europe could guarantee peace.

Political Fallout and Party Divisions

The purge deepened divisions within the Conservative Party, which had already been strained by years of infighting over Brexit. Ruth Davidson, the party’s departing leader in Scotland, questioned the decision to expel Soames, asking, How, in the name of all that is good and holy, is there no longer room in the Conservative Party for Nicholas Soames? Her criticism reflected broader concerns about the party’s shift toward a more hardline, populist stance under Johnson’s leadership.

The rebellion also saw another high-profile defection: Conservative MP Philip Lee crossed the floor to join the opposition Liberal Democrats during the debate, further weakening Johnson’s parliamentary majority. Lee accused the Conservative Party of being infected with the twin disease of populism and English nationalism, a sentiment echoed by other critics of the government’s Brexit approach.

Historical Parallels and Public Reaction

The expulsion of Churchill’s grandson drew widespread attention, both for its symbolic weight and its implications for British politics. Soames, who had served as a minister under former Prime Minister John Major, was a respected figure within the party, and his removal underscored the extent to which Brexit had reshaped traditional political alliances.

In an interview with Reuters, Soames confirmed his expulsion, stating, I have been told by the chief whip, who is my friend and who I like very much, that it will be his sad duty to write to me tomorrow to tell me I have had the whip removed after 37 years as a Conservative member of parliament. His remarks reflected a mix of resignation and frustration at the direction of the party under Johnson.

The vote and subsequent expulsions set the stage for further political turmoil, including the possibility of a general election. Johnson’s government, now without a working majority, faced an uphill battle in advancing its Brexit agenda, while opposition parties seized the opportunity to push for alternative solutions, including a second referendum or a softer Brexit deal.

Legacy and Long-Term Impact

The expulsion of Soames and the other rebel MPs marked a turning point in the Brexit saga, highlighting the deep fractures within the Conservative Party and the broader political landscape. For Soames, the decision to defy Johnson was a rare act of rebellion, one that ended his decades-long career in Parliament. In later interviews, he expressed no regrets, framing his actions as a necessary stand against what he viewed as a reckless approach to Brexit.

The incident also served as a stark reminder of the enduring influence of Winston Churchill’s legacy in British politics. While Churchill was a complex figure whose views on Europe evolved over time, his grandson’s expulsion was seen by some as a symbolic break with the past, as the Conservative Party embraced a more nationalist and eurosceptic identity under Johnson’s leadership.

As of September 2019, the political fallout from the expulsions continued to reverberate, with Johnson’s government facing mounting challenges in Parliament and the opposition pushing for further measures to block a no-deal Brexit. The long-term consequences for the Conservative Party, and for British politics more broadly, remained uncertain, but the purge of Soames and his colleagues underscored the high stakes of the Brexit debate.