A Conservative MP has defected to the Labour Party, accusing Boris Johnson of being "incapable of offering the leadership" the country deserves.
Bury South MP Christian Wakeford, who was elected in 2019, had been one of seven Tory MPs to publicly express no confidence in the Prime Minister.
In a letter, he wrote: "You and the Conservative Party as a whole have shown themselves incapable of offering the leadership and government this country deserves."
The announcement came just moments before the PM took to the floor for Prime Minister's Questions.
Labour leader Keir Starmer said: "I would like to welcome Christian Wakeford to the Labour Party. He has always put the people of Bury South first."
But Health Secretary Sajid Javid told Sky News: “I feel sorry for the people of Bury South. I think a by-election would be welcome… I think Christian should be happy with a by-election”. He added: “They’ve got an MP who’s changed his affiliation without their permission”.
Labour has indicated there will not be a by-election. So what do the voters of Bury South think? We spoke to them.
In the town of Prestwich, which sits in the Bury South constituency, there was a mixed response today to Christian Wakeford’s defection from Tory to Labour.
Sham Raja, 50, said: “It’s so shameful. He signed up to be a Conservative MP. It’s disgraceful, he was elected under the Conservative banner.
“There are lots of small businesses struggling at the moment and he’s said nothing about this. Boris Johnson was the only guy to bring us out of Europe and get Brexit done.
“I think he should step down as an MP and if he wants to be a Labour MP, he should apply to be one.
“He’s not won on a Labour platform and he should take it upon himself to step down.”
Jeremy Burtles, 67, said: “There should be another election – you can’t just switch. If you want to change parties, you need to step down.
“You always vote for the party you want in charge so I think it’s ridiculous to switch all of a sudden.
“If you’re going to change your view, you should just step down.”
And Hazel Donnelly, 64, said: “I don’t think it was very good at all, he shouldn’t be allowed to do that.
“It won’t change the way I vote because I am a Conservative.
“I don’t think it’s a big deal what Boris did - there are much worse things that have happened recently.
“There should be certain rules with these things. I think he has broken a rule but there are more important things going on at the moment.”
But Barry Humphries, 78, backed the MP's decision.
He said: “Good for him, I think he’s doing what’s right for him and he’s standing up for what he believes in.”
And Ifkan Ahmed, 60, added: “I’ve always been happy with him. I think these days it’s okay to change your policies.
“He has been very good for our area and I’m happy with what he’s done. It doesn’t matter to me that he has changed.”
Vickie Stone, 70, said: “If he wants to do it because of Boris Johnson then I think that’s fair enough.
“If he doesn’t agree with the way Boris is handling the situation then that’s up to him.
“I’m more bothered about the leadership, I’m worried about who is going to replace Boris if it ends up going that way.”
In Radcliffe, the centre of the constituency, the MP's office, painted in true-blue Tory colours, was shuttered.
Outside on the street, ex-Labour and current Tory voter Mavis Leach said: "Well, I'm surprised. Are there others doing it, as well, getting out of a sinking ship before it goes down?"
Mrs Leach, who said she disavowed Labour because of a dislike for former leader Jeremy Corbyn, said Boris Johnson should stay on as Prime Minister.
"I know he's done wrong, done a lot of things wrong," she said. "Boris has done a lot of things. We know that.
"But I think he's done a good job in other things, (such as) bringing the vaccinations in, and we're in a good place for that."
Another local, Jonathan Boston, a Labour supporter, said Mr Wakeford's change in loyalty is "really good news".
"Presumably, it's all to do with partygate", he said, referring to allegations of lockdown-busting parties within No 10, though a Labour spokesman has since said talks with Mr Wakeford began before the scandal hit.
Mr Boston said: "From what one hears, all the MPs have had millions of emails from constituents saying, 'It's terrible and he's got to go,' so I don't think any Tory voter, even in Radcliffe, or Bury South or whatever, would be surprised at (the defection).
"(It's) probably the first of many, I would have thought, especially the newer MPs. I think a lot of the newer ones will do a similar thing."
Meanwhile, Chris Holland said he rated Mr Wakeford as a local MP but had not voted for him.
He said: "I've never voted Tory and I never would do. I've messaged him a few times and he has got back to me.
"To me, he's not been doing too bad. I'd rather have a Labour (MP) than a Tory."
David Collins, who runs Marie's Coffee Shop, a stone's throw from Mr Wakeford's constituency office, said: "I probably wouldn't vote for either of them anyway, Labour or Conservative.
"They're all as bad as each other. They all promise they're going to do things and none of it ever materialises, does it?
"You wouldn't think you were able to jump ship halfway through, would you?"
Tory voter Joan Humphreys said she feels like her tick at the ballot box has now been wasted.
She said: "I feel like going down there and saying, 'Right. I want to withdraw it.'
"If he wants to become Labour, and he wants to support Labour's policies, we should have a by-election and see what the people say.
"If Boris had held his hands up at the beginning, people would have been far more forgiving about it, but he's not.
"But who are you going to have instead of Boris? I can't see anybody else."
