Tory defectors booted out of MPs’ WhatsApp group within minutes of crossing the floor to Independent Group

TORY defectors were booted out of the MPs WhatsApp group today within MINUTES of leaving the party.

Sarah Wollaston, Heidi Allen and Anna Soubry were chucked out of their party's chat group with other elected Members of Parliament soon after they left to join the Independent Group.

The three announced this morning they were leaving the Tories behind over Brexit and the party's lurch to the right.

They were kicked out by none other than one of the party's vice chairs, James Cleverly.

And The Sun has seen that Tory staffers were chucked out of a similar group just nine minutes after the announcement this morning.

"Brutal, but the right decision," one source said.

Theresa May said earlier she was "saddened" by the move and vowed to keep on fighting for Brexit.

The three Tory Remainers said today more will join them unless Mrs May changes her tune and backs a softer Brexit.

And they warned that more could join them too.

They also want the PM to back a second Brexit referendum as the price for their support.

The move is a huge blow to her as she jets to Brussels this afternoon to try and secure a Brexit deal with Jean Claude Juncker.

Meanwhile, on a Labour group chat, ITV revealed that the party's General Secretary Jennie Formby has written to MPs about the database of voters they have access to.

"The party has become aware of a number of attempts to access personal data held on the Party's systems by individuals who are not, or are no longer, authorised to do so," she warned.

Anyone using the voter data having left the party could be in serious hot water with the Information Commissioner's office, she said.

Labour sources said they had had their access to the party's member centre taken away - because of fears MPs or staff could try and take data with them if they quit.

The three splitters will join with seven other ex-Labour MPs who broke away from their own party earlier this week.

But none will have to resign their seats in Parliament and have a by-election unless they choose to do so.

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