East Midlands MEP Annunziata Rees-Mogg quits Brexit Party and endorses Conservatives

A Brexit Party MEP, whose region includes Newark, has quit the party ­— and endorsed the Conservatives in the General Election.

Annunziata Rees-Mogg, sister of Conservative politician Jacob Rees-Mogg, was among four MEPs to quit the Brexit Party.

She was elected to represent the East Midlands in the European Parliament in May's election.

She said: "We need a strong leave-supporting government to deliver the Brexit 17.4m voted for.

"The Conservatives are the only option for Brexit supporters and democrats alike."

Annunziata Rees-Mogg resigned from the party along with Lance Forman, Lucy Harris and John Longworth, who had had the party whip yesterday.

In their resignation letter, they said: "As we have tried to suggest over the past few months, we believe The Brexit Party has taken a wrong turn and is itself putting Brexit in jeopardy.

"We believe the current Brexit Party strategy risks the UK remaining in the European Union and this is not something we feel able to support."

Around 13,400 people voted for the Brexit Party in Newark and Sherwood in the May European elections.

Annunziata Rees-Mogg was one of three Brexit Party candidates elected for the East Midlands, along with Jonathan Bullock and Matthew Patten. Liberal Democrat Bill Newton-Dunn and Labour's Rory Palmer were also elected.

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