THE Culture Secretary was removed from a WhatsApp group of Brexit-supporting Tories for defending the Prime Minister.

Nadine Dorries spoke up in favour of Boris Johnson in the group of more than 100 MPs that is labelled "Clean Global Brexit".

The group had been discussing the resignation of Brexit minister Lord Frost whose resignation was revealed on Saturday evening.

Frost led negotiations with the EU over the UK's exit from the block and has recently been locked in intense talks to close gaps around post-Brexit arrangements.

The news of the resignation was revealed by the Mail on Sunday and Chipping Barnett MP Theresa Villiers shared the article in the group, saying that it was "very worrying".

Andrew Bridgen responded: "Worrying? It's a disaster. Lord Frost was concerned about the policy direction of the [Government]. So are most of the Conservative backbenchers."

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The Tory MP for North West Leicestershire later made his thoughts much more public, tweeting: "The Prime Minister is running out of time and out of friends to deliver on the promises and discipline of a true Conservative Government.

"Lord Frost has made it clear, 100 Conservative backbenchers have made it clear, but most importantly so did the people of North Shropshire."

Bridgen's contribution to the WhatsApp group was followed by Yeovil MP Marcus Fysh saying that Forst is "a hero" and was "100% right" in his resignation.

Cotswolds MP Geoffrey Clifton-Brown described it as a "further hammer blow to the PM" who "desperately needs" a strong adviser in Downing Street, suggesting a Brexiteer. He added that a leadership challenge "is not the answer" due to all the "underlying problems" still being around.

Dorries, who was appointed to the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport ministerial brief in September, then stood up for Johnson.

She said: "The hero is the Prime Minister who delivered Brexit. I'm aware as someone said today that regicide is in the DNA of Conservative party, but a bit of loyalty to the person who won an 83 majority and delivered Brexit wouldn't go amiss."

Dorries was then removed from the group by Steve Baker, who then wrote: "Enough is enough."

Bridgen added: "About time, thanks Steve."

Baker (below), the Tory MP for Wycombe, is an arch-Brexiteer who led the Eurosceptic European Research Group (ERG), was elected to ministerial office at the Department for Exiting the European Union in 2017 but resigned amid concerns of the Government's Brexit strategy in 2018. He was immediately elected to the deputy chair of ERG by Jacob Rees-Mogg who was leading the group before taking over the chair in 2019 and then stepping back last year.

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Baker later added that the majority of Tory MPs at Westminster was won for many reasons, including the previous Brexit deal being rejected and encouraging then-Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage not to stand against incumbent Tory MPs.

He said: "If Boris had not benefitted from both, we would be on the other benches."

Baker then called for arguments not to continue in the group because they had "troubles enough in our immediate future".

Questions remain about the veracity of Johnson's leadership of the Conservative party and UK Government after the ultra-safe seat of North Shropshire was lost to the LibDems in a by-election called in the wake of Owen Paterson's resignation after Johnson attempted to save the MP from suspension by changing standards rules.

The introduction of new Covid measures in England led to a Tory rebellion of 99 MPs in the Commons vote and the resignation of Frost as Brexit minister indicates a rift between the PM and allies on a major point of policy.