A RED Wall Tory MP has today defected to Labour – minutes before Boris Johnson faces a gruelling PMQs as he fights to keep his job.
Christian Wakeford sensationally today resigned from the Tory party and will now sit as a Labour MP – lashing out at the “disgraceful” behaviour of the PM in the wake of the party-gate scandal.
The Bury MP told his local newspaper that he was throwing in the towel and the PM was incapable of offering the country the leadership is deserved.
Today he walked into PMQs with other Labour MPs and sat on the opposition benches in a huge snub to his former colleagues.
The shocking news came as the PM fights for his job as letters of no confidence trickle in to 1922 chief Sir Graham Brady.
Several Tories have come out to say the PM should go after his dire handling of the parties scandals.
But many are waiting for an official probe report from Sue Gray before making up their mind on what should happen next.
In a stringing letter to Boris today, Mr Wakeford, who has a tiny majority of just 402, said: “I have reached the conclusion that the best interests of my constituents are served by the programme put forward by Keir Starmer and his party.
“My decision is about much more than your leadership and the disgraceful way you have conducted yourself in recent weeks.”
And he accused him of making life worse for his struggling constituents in the North of England and did not have their interests at heart.
He said: “The policies of the Conservative government that you lead are doing nothing to help the people of my constituency and indeed are only making the struggles they face on a daily basis worse.”
He revealed he had “wrestled with my conscience for many months” before making his dramatic decision today.
And he fumed: “I can no longer support a government that has shown itself consistently out of touch with the hard working people of Bury South and the country as a whole.”
The PM was one of those who had publicly come out to reveal he’d sent a letter of no confidence in the PM – but this now won’t count towards the total needed to trigger a leadership contest as he’s no longer a Tory MP.
The Bury MP, who was first elected in 2019, took a huge swipe at the PM just a week ago on Twitter.
He raged: “How do you defend the indefensible? You can’t!
“It’s embarrassing and what’s worse is it further erodes trust in politics when it’s already low.
“We need openness, trust and honesty in our politics now more than ever and that starts from the top!”
The gloating Labour boss started PMQs today by welcoming his newest MP.
Sir Keir Starmer started off his questions by saying: “Can I start by warmly welcoming the Hon Member for Bury South to Labour…
“Like so many people up and down the country. he has concluded the PM and Conservative Party are incapable of offering leadership country deserves.”
The PM insisted he helped win the seat for the “first time in generations” after Mr Wakeford’s defection and brushed the defection aside.
Today he insisted: “we will win again in Bury South at the next election” under his leadership.
