TORY MPs defied orders from government whips yesterday to withdraw support for a motion that would exclude the NHS from the TTIP trade deal.

The Prime Minister was forced to accept the cross-party amendment to the Queen’s Speech as a rebellion by around 25 Tory backbenchers threatened to bring down the government’s entire programme.

“As we’ve said all along, there is no threat to the NHS from TTIP. So if this amendment is selected, we’ll accept it,” a Number 10 spokesman announced on Thursday.