ONE of Dorset’s representatives in the European Parliament has been suspended from the Conservative group over her stance on Brexit talks.

South West MEP Julie Girling had supported a motion in Strasbourg declaring that “sufficient progress” had not been made in the Brexit talks for them to move onto issues of trade.

The decision to suspend Mrs Girling, along with South East MEP Richard Ashworth, was backed by Downing Street.

The party’s chief whip in the European Parliament, Dan Dalton, wrote to the pair: "Given the seriousness of this issue, and your failure to discuss your intention to vote against the agreed position of the Conservative delegation in advance, I am therefore writing to inform you that I am suspending the Conservative whip from you until further notice."

Mrs Girling said in a statement: “I am disappointed to have had the Conservative whip withdrawn, especially since it happened before any discussion was held with me about the reasons for my vote last week.

“I have been active in the party for 40 years – 20 as an elected representative – and for 39 of those years our policy has been pro-Europe.

“I have never considered myself a rebel and have not altered my beliefs. It is the party which has changed, not me, but that does not stop me feeling sadness that such a precipitate response was felt to be appropriate.”