Britain’s rancorous party schisms have unexpected Irish echoes

Michael Collins and Arthur Griffith would have understood well how riven British politics has become over one core issue

Arthur Griffith (left) and Michael Collins (second right): the Anglo-Irish Treaty they signed almost a century ago constituted an existential question for this countryGetty

Westminster has had more than its fair share of dramatic moments in recent months. But even the most jaded of lobby hacks took a sharp intake of breath on Wednesday when three Tory MPs announced that they were leaving the party. The trio joined eight Labour rebel MPs in a new independent grouping on the House of Commons’ famous green leather rows.

The departing Conservatives pulled no punches about Theresa May and her ...