A Kent MP has defended his decision to rebel on a key Brexit vote.

Tunbridge Wells MP Greg Clark was among four ministers who abstained in a vote to block the government suspending Parliament to enable a no-deal Brexit to be pushed through.

The business secretary is widely expected to lose his job next week if, as predicted, Boris Johnson becomes the new Conservative Party leader and Prime Minister.

The MP, who has been seen as a serial loyalist, joined three other ministers including the Chancellor Philip Hammond in abstaining on an amendment to stop Boris Johnson suspending Parliament to push through a no-deal Brexit.

He defended his decision saying: "I couldn't support the idea that we would allow the doors of Parliament to be locked against MPs at this crucially important time.

"I think that would be a constitutional outrage, and we should not participate in that."

Under normal circumstances Mr Clark and others would have been sacked from their jobs for defying a three line whip.

'I think that would be a constitutional outrage, and we should not participate in that.' - MP Greg Clark

However, Theresa May declined to take any action over the matter just days before she will be replaced as Prime Minister.

Earlier this week the Tunbridge Wells MP said in an interview that thousands of jobs could be lost if the UK left without a deal.

He told Sky News: "If you become less efficient and your ability to trade is impeded then of course losing your competitiveness means that there will be jobs at will be lost."

Mr Hammond explained his decision on Twitter, writing: "The Conservative Party has always, at its core, had a fundamental belief in the importance of strong institutions - and in a representative democracy there can be no more vital institution than it’s Parliament."

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