Boris Johnson has been branded a ‘hypocrite’ for warning members of his party to toe the line on Brexit after he voted against Theresa May’s Withdrawal Agreement twice before she stepped down as Prime Minister.

The PM is among a list of MPs who defied the whip this year and is now threatening to sack Conservatives who do the same thing in the House of Commons tomorrow.

He has called a meeting of his cabinet today to consider how to respond to the possibility of MPs seeking to take control of Commons business.

Senior Tories were met with protesters waving anti-Brexit banners as they left the cabinet office this morning.

Brexit rebels in the Tory party have been warned that if they vote for legislation to block a no-deal Brexit in a crunch clash, they face losing the party whip.

It means they could be barred from standing in a snap general election if one is called in the autumn.

Former chancellor Philip Hammond called the move ‘staggeringly hypocritical’.

Which cabinet MPs have defied the whip this year?

Despite warning others not to vote against the government, many members of Mr Johnson’s own cabinet have defied the whip this year.

Home Secretary Priti Patel and Environment Secretary Theresa Villiers both voted against Theresa May’s Brexit deal at all three opportunities.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps and Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab voted against it twice, as did Housing Secretary Esther Mcvey.

The then DWP boss resigned as Mrs May’s work and pensions secretary in November 2018 over Brexit and then voted against the Withdrawal Agreement on two occasions.

Amber Rudd, who took over from Ms McVey, abstained on a Government motion ruling out a no-deal Brexit in all circumstances on March 13 while Jacob Rees-Mogg, now Leader of the House of Commons, opposed Mrs May’s Withdrawal Agreement twice.

The Prime Minister began a war of words with rebels ahead of a torrid week which will be dominated by clashes with opponents over his EU withdrawal stance.

Opposition MPs are expected to try to seize control of the parliamentary agenda on Tuesday.

They have six days to come up with a plan to block a no-deal Brexit after the PM’s controversial move to suspend parliament for five weeks from September 9.

Senior Rebel Tories – like heavyweight grandees Philip Hammond and David Gauke – who have spoken out against no-deal, were warned to back the government or face being forced out.

A senior source from the Tory whips office said: ‘The whips are telling Conservative MPs a very simple message – if they fail to vote with the Government on Tuesday they will be destroying the Government’s negotiating position and handing control of Parliament to Jeremy Corbyn.

‘Any Conservative MP who does this will have the whip withdrawn and will not stand as Conservative candidates in an election.’

Speaking on Good Morning Britain earlier today, Education Secretary Gavin Williamson  insisted sacking Tory rebels who side with Jeremy Corbyn on Brexit is the ‘right decision’.

His comments came after Michael Gove, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, prompted outrage by suggesting the government could ignore legislation to block a no-deal.

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