Cameron warns the Tories his brand of 'modern compassionate conservatism' must not be driven out as defectors warn they have lost a 'battle' for the party David Cameron made a rare intervention after three Tory MPs defected today He paid tribute to Anna Soubry, Sarah Wollaston and Heidi Allen after they quit Ex-PM warned 'modern, compassionate conservatism' was vital to the party By Tim Sculthorpe, Deputy Political Editor For Mailonline Published: 17:24 GMT, 20 February 2019 | Updated: 17:24 GMT, 20 February 2019 Viewcomments David Cameron warned his party it must not drive out 'modern, compassionate conservation' tonight. The ex-Prime Minister - who brought Sarah Wollaston and Heidi Allen into politics - paid tribute to the three defectors. Anna Soubry, who served Mr Cameron as a health, defence and business minister, warned today the battle for the soul of the Tories had been lost by the 'One Nation' wing. Mr Cameron's intervention will be seen as a warning to his successor to stem the tide of anger that prompted the trio to defect today. David Cameron warned his party it must not drive out 'modern, compassionate conservation' tonight The ex-Prime Minister - who brought Sarah Wollaston and Heidi Allen into politics - paid tribute to the three defectors Mr Cameron's intervention will be seen as a warning to his successor to stem the tide of anger that prompted the trio (pictured after their defection) to quit the party today He said: 'I am sad that three talented Tory MPs have left the party. I backed the open primaries that saw two of them elected and supported them all. 'I respect their decision, but disagree with the: we need strong voices at every level of the party call from the modern, compassionate conservativism that saw the Conservative Party return to office. 'Our party has long been able to contain different views on Europe. Everyone must ensure that can continue to be the case.' In their resignation letter to Mrs May, the three MPs said: 'We no longer feel we can remain in the party of a Government whose policies and priorities are so firmly in the grip of the ERG and DUP. 'Brexit has re-defined the Conservative Party - undoing all the efforts to modernise it. There has been a dismal failure to stand up to the hard line ERG which operates openly as a party within a party, with its own leader, whip and policy.' They added: 'The final straw for us has been this Government's disastrous handling of Brexit.' Mr Cameron's intervention will be seen as a warning to his successor Theresa May to stem the tide of anger that prompted the trio to defect today At their press conference today, Ms Allen said it was the London riots in 2011 that brought her into politics - and Mr Cameron's modernisation of the Tories that made her a Conservative. But she said: 'We have a prime minister [who] is now dragging the country kicking and screaming into the edge of a no-deal abyss. I'm done.' She added: 'My constituents make my head and my heart fizz with possibilities, I want to feel that way in Westminster too. I am tired of feeling numb.' Share or comment on this article: All rights reserved for this news site dailymail and under his responsibility