These Tory dinosaurs are all being reactivated

David Cameron is on course to win an overall - albeit incredibly slim - majority for the Conservatives.

Such a victory, sensational given the polls all pointed to a hung parliament, could be a double-edged sword for the prime minister-elect, as it means he will have to rely on Tory backbenchers toeing the line in order to get his legislative programme through the Commons.

Quite simply, there is no coalition partner this time, and no Nick Clegg to whip Lib Dem MPs into advancing the government's agenda.

And Cameron might just recall that a lot of his own MPs are quite, quite intractable. Here are some of the dinosaurs roaring back into life now the Tories are poised to go it alone in government...

Philip Davies

Davies has objected to gay marriage, banning smoking in cars with children, and sending books to prisoners. He is basically un-whippable and will be a huge thorn in David Cameron’s side.

Bill Cash

A fervent eurosceptic and serial rebel, Cash led the Maastricht rebellion which nearly toppled John Major in the 1990s. In the last parliament he rebelled 82 times and we should expect the same again. He along with other Tory rebels will now hold David Cameron’s feet to the fire in terms of an EU referendum. This will make life very uncomfortable for the re-elected Prime Minister.

Philip Hollobone

The Kettering MP Philip Hollobone has the dubious honour of being the most rebellious MP in the House of Commons over the last five years. He has defied the government with a grand total of 237 votes out of 1,191 since 2010, a total of 19.9 per cent.

David Davis

There is no love lost between David Davis and David Cameron ever since the two fought for the party leadership in 2005. A famous libertarian he will object to a whole range of policies likely to be pursued by the new Government.

Zac Goldsmith

Goldsmith is a rebel from the left of the party. In particular he is likely to fight a strong campaign against a third runway at Heathrow. If Labour and the SNP also block the plan expect to see a defeat for the Government.

Peter Bone

A famous thorn in the Government’s side Peter Bone is known to quote Mrs Bone as the subject of his political wisdom – and the reasons for his many rebellions. Under David Cameron’s government Bone has rebelled on 152 occasions out of 997 and even made an attempt to rename the August bank holiday as Margaret Thatcher Day.

Jessie Norman

Norman is a thoughtful rebel – but a rebel nonetheless. He was behind the backbench rebellion in the last Parliament to stymie the Coalition’s attempt to introduce reform to the House of Lords. With such a slender grip on power after this election he may become a bit more loyal – but don’t count on it.

Jacob Rees-Mogg

A old school Tory through and through Rees-Mogg will not see David Cameron’s new predicament as any reason not to continue doing what he has done since he was elected in 2010 – voting on his conscience regardless of what the party leadership thinks. He won’t mind siding with Labour and the opposition if he thinks his side is wrong and will treat the party whips with healthy disdain.

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