The Outspoken Tory MP Who Saw Writing On The Wall
The Independent|January 20, 2022
Conservative defector Christian Wakeford won Bury South with a wafer-thin majority of just 402 in 2019 and has been a vocal backbench critic of the PM
Ashley Cowburn
The Outspoken Tory MP Who Saw Writing On The Wall

In an effort to maximise the political damage on Boris Johnson, Christian Wakeford, a member of the 2019 intake of Conservative MPs, made public his dramatic decision to defect to Labour – just over 10 minutes before Prime Minister’s Questions.

With the prime minister already facing the threat of a no-confidence vote, the 37-year-old added to his growing in-tray of problems, becoming the first MP to defect from the Tory party to Labour since 2007, when Quentin Davies crossed the floor of the Commons.

The Bury South MP – previously critical of the “indefensible” reports of parties in No 10 during Covid restrictions – had been in conversations with Labour for some months over the move and first met with Sir Keir Starmer on Monday.

In a letter to the prime minister yesterday, the former councillor and Red Wall MP hit out at Boris Johnson’s “disgraceful” conduct in recent weeks and claimed the Conservatives were “incapable of offering the leadership and government this country deserves”.

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