STOURBRIDGE’S Margot James is among 10 rebel Tory MPs to have had the whip restored.

Ms James was among 21 Conservative MPs kicked out of the party last month after backing a plan to try to block a no-deal Brexit.

But shortly before voting began to agree a date for a General Election this evening (Tuesday) it was confirmed that the former Minister for Digital and Creative Industries, Ms James, would have the whip restored.

Former ministers Caroline Nokes, Greg Clark, Ed Vaizey, Richard Benyon, Stephen Hammond, Steve Brine and Richard Harrington have also had the whip restored, and Sir Nicholas Soames and Alistair Burt have also been readmitted to the parliamentary party.

Ms James said she was "very pleased" to have been been welcomed back.

She told the News she was part of a group invited to see Prime Minister Boris Johnson at a meeting ahead of this evening's vote at which she was offered the whip back.

Although delighted at the news, she added: "I hope there will be another group that are also made the same offer."

The MP - whose support for the Conservatives dates back to her late teens - said she now intends to seek the nomination to stand as the Conservative Party candidate for Stourbridge in the forthcoming General Election which it has been confirmed will now take place on Thursday December 12. 

She confessed: "I'm not banking on it, I'm not counting my chickens. But I very much hope that I will be chosen to stand as a Conservative candidate for Stourbridge."

Ms James, who has been the town's MP for nine years, said some members were "very upset" at the way she voted when she aligned herself with the rebels in September and some were displeased to see their Tory MP turn independent - but she said: "There are others who are very much in support and think I should be judged not just on the Brexit matter."

However - she added: "I have consistently voted for the deal negotiated by the former Prime Minister and the deal put forward by the current Prime Minister Boris Johnson. I don't think anyone can accuse me of trying to stop Brexit."