A 'Red Wall' Tory MP has defected to Labour in protest over the "partygate" scandal, in a move that will intensify pressure on Boris Johnson to quit.
Christian Wakeford, who was elected as MP for Bury South in 2019, has crossed the floor having only submitted a letter of no confidence in the Prime Minister less than 24 hours ago.
His defection came just minutes before Mr Johnson delivered his address at Prime Minister’s Questions and will be seen as a highly damaging blow as he fights for his political survival.
Mr Wakeford was cheered by Labour MPs as he took his place for the first time on the party's green benches ahead of PMQs. He sat on the second row behind Sir Keir Starmer, the Labour leader.
In a scathing letter sent to Mr Johnson on Wednesday morning, Mr Wakeford said that he had now “reached the conclusion that the best interests of my constituents are served by the programme put forward by Keir Starmer and his party”.
'Britain needs a government that upholds the highest standards of integrity'
“Britain needs a government focused on tackling the cost of living crisis and providing a path out of the pandemic that protects living standards and defends the security of all,” Mr Wakeford added.
“It needs a government that upholds the highest standards of integrity and probity in public life and sadly both you and the Conservative Party as a whole have shown themselves incapable of offering the leadership and government this country deserves.”
In comments aimed directly at Mr Johnson and his handling of allegations of lockdown-breaking parties across Whitehall, Mr Wakeford added: “My decision is about much more than your leadership and the disgraceful way you have conducted yourself in recent weeks.
“However, I don’t believe all politicians are the same and I do believe in the power of politics to be a force for good. So does Keir Starmer.”
Responding to Mr Wakeford's defection during PMQs, Mr Johnson said the Conservatives will "win again in Bury South" at the next election.
"As for Bury South, let me say to him, the Conservative Party won Bury South for the first time in a generation under this Prime Minister on an agenda of of uniting and levelling up and delivering for the people of Bury South. We will win again in Bury South," he said.
'This incompetent Tory Government is asleep at the wheel'
Welcoming Mr Wakeford to the Labour Party, Sir Keir Starmer said in a statement: "I would like to welcome Christian Wakeford to the Labour Party. He has always put the people of Bury South first.
"As Christian said, the policies of the Conservative Government are doing nothing to help the people of Bury South and indeed are only making the struggles they face on a daily basis worse."
He added: "People across Britain faces a cost of living crisis but this incompetent Tory Government is asleep at the wheel, distracted by a chaos of its own making. Meanwhile families, businesses and pensioners are suffering from the Conservative failure to tackle rising food, fuel and energy prices.
"Labour are the only ones who have put forward a plan to help people through the Tory cost of living crisis.
"I’m determined to build a new Britain which guarantees security, prosperity and respect for all and I’m delighted that Christian has decided to join us in this endeavour."
Despite Sir Keir's enthusiasm, Young Labour said that Mr Wakeford "should not be admitted" to the party. "He has consistently voted against the interests of working-class people; for the £20 universal credit cut, for the Nationality and Borders Bill and for the Police and Crime Bill. Young Labour does not welcome him," the group tweeted.
"Christian Wakeford himself co-sponsored a bill mandating by-elections for MPs who change party affiliation. The Labour Party must uphold Bury South members’ right to choose their own Labour candidate and constituents should be able to reassess their MP."
Mr Wakeford won Bury South, which had elected a Labour MP at every election since 1997, in 2019.
He was one of seven Tory MPs to publicly call for Mr Johnson to quit and had previously expressed his unease at the Government’s action in recent months.
In particular, he was particularly incensed by the attempt to whip Tory MPs to vote to clear Owen Paterson, the former minister, of wrongdoing after the Commons standards watchdog recommended he be suspended for 30 MPs after being found guilty of paid advocacy.
