Rita Verdonk resigned from the right-wing Liberal party (VVD) on Monday night after the party leadership threatened to expel her for refusing to give up her seat in parliament.

The controversial former integration minister was expelled from the parliamentary party last month after continually criticising the party leadership.
Verdonk is to stay on as an MP as a one-woman faction. She is expected to say more about her future plans later this week.
According to the Volkskrant, party leaders held a 15-minute meeting with Verdonk in which she was told either to quit parliament and remain a prominent VVD member or to remain an MP outside the party.