Lichfield MP Michael Fabricant 'sacked' as Tory Vice-Chairman
Staffordshire MP Michael Fabricant tonight said he had been sacked as Vice-Chairman of the Conservative Party due to his comments about HS2 and former Cabinet minister Maria Miller.
The Lichfield MP took to Twitter to reveal the news.
He tweeted: "Been asked to resign as Vice-Chairman, refused, so sacked over HS2 and my views on recent Cabinet Minister."
He added: "Still available 4 speeches etc."
Mr Fabricant, who was Vice-Chairman of the Conservative Party for Parliamentary Campaigning, has been outspoken in his views of the government's controversial £50 billion HS2 proposals, which affect his Staffordshire constituency.
He revealed he would defy the government and vote against the plans, saying he had 'no option but to do what was right'.
Today, he tweeted the comment: "About time" when embattled Maria Miller resigned as Culture Secretary over her expenses row, despite her having the backing of Prime Minister David Cameron.
After revealing the news on Twitter, he changed the biography on his profile to read: "My views are strictly my own, not always the Government's" and was sent messages of support from followers.
The 63-year-old, a former Tory whip, then wrote: "Thanks for all the lovely tweets. Look I am still a Conservative MP and my personality and Twitter fingers are undiminished."
A Conservative Party source confirmed the situation and said it had been 'building for some time'.
"It was amicable. Mr Fabricant is still a Conservative MP and has a lot of respect.
"He has tabled an amendment to alter the HS2 and that is not compatible with the position as a spokesman for the party."
