THE dissident Tory MP, Mr Peter Thurnham, has written to the British Prime Minister, Mr Major, saying he is quitting the party whip, his constituency chairman said last night.
The announcement, following a 70 minute meeting between Mr Major and Mr Thurnham in the Mr Major's House of Commons room, cuts the government's majority from four to just two.
Mr Thurnham's decision casts doubt over the government's ability to win next Monday night's crucial vote on the Scott report on the arms to Iraq report.
After the MP's meeting with Mr Major, senior Conservative party sources were insisting he had agreed to reconsider over the weekend his threat to sit as an independent Conservative.
Mr Norman Critchley, chairman of the Bolton North East Conservative Association, said the MP was resigning the party whip temporarily in order to "take stock".
But Mr Critchley angrily accused Mr Thurnham of an act of betrayal, claiming his action was motivated more by his failure to find a safe seat at the next general election rather than anger over the Scott report.
Mr Major was said to be "astonished" by the development particularly as they had agreed to meet again next week after the MP had had time to consider.
Mr Thurnham is the third Tory MP to quit the party ranks, following the defections last year of Mr Alan Howarth to Labour and Ms Emma Nicholson to the Liberal Democrats.
Labour's Chief Whip, Mr Donald Dewar, said Mr Thurnham was not alone among Tory MPs in his feelings of discontent over the way the party was going. "This is further evidence that the Tory Party is disintegrating under the weight of its own divisions."
The Liberal Democrat Chief Whip, Mr Archie Kirkwood, said "I am not surprised that someone with a conscience like Peter Thurnham now finds it impossible supporting government. "He is typical of many thousand's of people up and down the country."
Rachel Borrill reports The announcement came after Mr Major's defence of his ministers' actions during the affair was last, night questioned following accusation from the report's author that the government had "selectively" quoted his comments to exonerate its ministers.
In a letter to the President of the Board of Trade, Mr Ian Lang, Sir Richard Scott complained that ministers, including Mr Major, were repeatedly using his comments that there was "no conspiracy and no cover up" out context.
The letter, written on behalf of Sir Richard by the inquiry secretary, stated "Only the first few words of the Vice Chancellor's [Sir Richard's] answer is being quoted, with the result that his words are being selectively used, ... only the report contains Sir Richard's considered views. Out of context one line answers at a press conference are no substitute."