The new chairman of Parliament's Intelligence and Security Committee has condemned Downing Street's attempt to impose its "preferred candidate" to lead the committee.
Backbench MP Julian Lewis said he did not respond to a call to vote for former cabinet minister Chris Grayling as he considered it to be an "improper request".
It came after the PM was branded the “author of his own misfortune” after his plot to parachute an ally into a key intelligence role backfired.
Mr Lewis was expelled from the parliamentary Conservative Party on Wednesday after securing the prestigious ISC chairmanship with the support of opposition members.
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