Embattled Grantham and Stamford Conservative MP, Nick Boles, empathises with "good friends" in Independent Group

Nick Boles, the embattled MP for Grantham and Stamford, has said he "agree[s] with so much" of what the newest members of the Independent Group have said.

He was writing on Twitter in response to a joint-letter to the Prime Minister sent by Heidi Allen, Anna Soubry, and Sarah Wollaston. The three former Conservative MPs quit their party this morning to join eight Labour MPs in the newly-former Independent Group.

However, he ruled out joining them just "yet", writing: "I am not ready to give up on @Conservatives".

Mr Boles is currently facing the prospect of deselection by his own local Conservative Association, after a committee voted to begin proceedings earlier this month.