Tory MPs Andrew Bridgen and James Cleverly refuse to talk on TV

Tory civil war erupts on TV: Brexiteer rebel MP Andrew Bridgen walks out of interview when May loyalist James Cleverly joins him on air

  • Victoria Derbyshire said the pair ‘don’t necessarily want to talk to each other’
  • Mr Bridgen walked off when Mr Cleverly was invited on air outside Parliament
  • It comes ahead of a Tory confidence vote in Theresa May’s leadership tonight 

Two Conservative MPs refused to appear on TV together as the party’s bitter row over Brexit erupted into a leadership challenge today. 

Andrew Bridgen walked off during a live broadcast in Westminster and did not acknowledge fellow MP James Cleverly when his Tory colleague was invited on air. 

BBC presenter Victoria Derbyshire said the pair ‘might not want to speak to each other’, to which Mr Bridgen said: ‘I’ll go’.  

Mr Bridgen has been a fierce critic of Theresa May while Mr Cleverly is backing the PM in tonight’s confidence vote.  

Andrew Bridgen (centre) and James Cleverly (right) avoided each other during a live broadcast with Victoria Derbyshire (left) outside Westminster amid the latest Tory row over Brexit 

At the start of the clip Mr Bridgen is wrapping up an interview with the BBC host in which he talks about the number of Brexiteers who have quit the Cabinet. 

Victoria Derbyshire moves on, saying: ‘I’m going to talk to your colleague now, James Cleverly – I gather that you don’t necessarily want to talk to each other.’ 

North West Leicestershire MP Mr Bridgen initially signals that he is willing to stay, but when asked directly, says ‘I’ll go’ and walks off the screen. 

Mr Cleverly gives a surprised look but then tries to patch things up, saying he had ‘known Andrew for many years’ and ‘I like him a lot’. 

Brexiteer Mr Bridgen was heckled by some colleagues yesterday as he said Mrs May had ‘lost the trust and credibility’ of the Commons, the country and the EU. 

After Mrs May cancelled yesterday’s planned vote on the Brexit deal, he said: ‘Successful renegotiations require trust and credibility.

Mr Bridgen (centre), a fierce critic of Theresa May, chose to walk out of the interview when Mr Cleverly (right), who has backed the PM, was invited on air 

Mr Bridgen (centre), a fierce critic of Theresa May, chose to walk out of the interview when Mr Cleverly (right), who has backed the PM, was invited on air 

Mr Cleverly was left on his own with the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire after Mr Bridgen walked off

Mr Cleverly was left on his own with the BBC’s Victoria Derbyshire after Mr Bridgen walked off

‘Given the Prime Minister’s breathtaking U-turn today, I put it to her that she’s lost the trust and credibility of the House, lost the trust and credibility of the country and most importantly she’s lost the trust and credibility of the European Union as well.’   

Mr Bridgen is known to be one of the Tory backbenchers who have submitted letters of no confidence in Mrs May as party leader. 

This morning it emerged that the 48 letters required to trigger a leadership contest had been reached. 

Backing the PM, Mr Cleverly said today: ‘Clearly I’m disappointed that some in my party have triggered a vote of no confidence just as the PM is having a series of international meetings to deliver Brexit. 

‘I will, of course, be voting in support of Theresa May.’

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