Tory tensions on Europe have boiled over after Eurosceptic MPs were kicked off a parliamentary delegation to Strasbourg. Last week ConHome revealed how Cameron had sought revenge on backbench purdah rebels by sacking them from the Council of Europe. Cheryl Gillan, Edward Leigh and Chris Chope were all relieved of their positions. The Ukrainian delegation to the Council has since written to the Prime Minister on behalf of the Baltic states to complain that the move could strengthen Russia’s hand:

“In international politics, it all too often comes down to personal trust and leadership shown in difficult circumstances. Mr Christopher Chope is such a man who has earned our trust and whose leadership deserves our highest esteem. It would be utterly regrettable if because of his absence during the coming crucial months the Russian Delegation would manage to have its credentials restored”.

It then all kicked off when Peter Bone raised the issue in the chamber, blasting Cameron and telling the frontbench that “the Prime Minister should be ashamed of himself”. Eyewitnesses report that fellow Tory backbencher Keith Simpson took exception to the comment and confronted Bone in the Members’ Lobby, where the argument got so heated that a passing John Bercow feared it would turn physical. The pair were eventually dragged apart…