Forum Topic

Christian Wakeford (MP for Bury) defects to Labour

Just saw it on breaking news on the BBC website.If vote of no confidence is not possible, more MPs to defect to the opposition?

Ivonne Holliday ● 1475d29 Comments

Just heard on LBC that there is a rally about to start in Bury to demand a by-election.

Sue Hammond ● 1473d

"Quel surprise"To be fair apart from the headline there is no detail in the article. I guess they are covered by "allegedly"!The Tory party has rallied and letter have even been withdrawn from the 1922 committee.I suspect if Johnson knew it would be a positive outcome for him he probably would have thrown him across the chamber himself. Plus one or two others!I suspect the article is aimed at the left who have been giving him a hard time on his labelling of Labour members and his voting record.Strange the defection may have saved Johnson. Starmer also continues to look good - sparring with Johnson rather than someone more competent.The constituents and those offended by Johnson's behaviour seem to be the real losers.

Ed Robinson ● 1473d

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/jan/21/tory-whips-allegedly-tried-to-smear-christian-wakeford-after-defectionQuel surprise.

Lucille Grant ● 1473d

If only there was a bill like this one:Recall of MPs (Change of Party Affiliation)Scroll to the bottom :)https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2020-09-02/debates/3C70057E-B43C-4024-88FE-3CBEA9C1FE8F/RecallOfMps(ChangeOfPartyAffiliation)

Ed Robinson ● 1474d

Yes. Mark Reckless & Douglas Carswell did that so they could join UKIP. All at the insistance of Nigel Farage. God, is there no better person than him, insisting on democracy & at the same time saving us from the EU. What a true British hero. He did Boris's job for him. He deserves a dukedom not the vilification from you rejoiners. Oh & by the way the EU is rubbish. Have you looked at it lately?

Paul Rolink ● 1474d

Unfortunately there is no recall process that can be initiated by the constituents.

Ed Robinson ● 1474d

"he should resign and trigger a by-election."It does not seem to be the done thing. Has anybody found a MP who has done that?

David Ainsworth ● 1474d

There are two articles on the BBC website about Christian Wakeford, namely:https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-60070621https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-60062632In addition, there is this one about blackmailing:https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-60068612For the latter, sadly I am not surprised about blackmailing.  Remember how Johnson withdrew the whip from some 20 MPs who did not agree with him?  I think it is in Johnson's blood to behave in that way.  My point of view only.

Ivonne Holliday ● 1474d

I wonder what the defeated Labour candidate in Bury South feels. And the local Conservative party members who worked to secure his election in 2019.I have no problem with his rejection of Johnson, but he should resign and trigger a by-election.

Elizabeth Balsom ● 1474d

Daily Mail:-"Labour activists were in open revolt last night after Christian Wakeford joined their ranks.The Bury South MP became the first Tory in 15 years to cross the floor of the Commons to sit on the Labour benches.Labour members also took aim at the Tory turncoat who they said ‘should be nowhere near’ their party – after it emerged he once branded them a ‘bunch of c***s’."Bit of a giveaway, if someone with his views and voting record is welcome in Starmer's party. The purge continues.

David Ainsworth ● 1475d

From sinking ship to sinking ship? What is a boy to do?

David Ainsworth ● 1475d

Wakeford is toast now.

Sue Hammond ● 1475d

"Mr Wakeford will have too much trouble in increasing it in what was until 2019"It was Conservative from 1983-1997.In addition to the boundary changes it also assumes that there will be no Independent Labour candidate or a popular Conservative candidatehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bury_South_(UK_Parliament_constituency)

Ed Robinson ● 1475d

The Conservative majority in 2019 was a mere 402. I don't think Mr Wakeford will have too much trouble in increasing it in what was until 2019 a Labour stronghold. Good luck to him.

Lucille Grant ● 1475d

He could have just temporary resigned from the Whip in protest.But if changing parties be it Wakeford or  Chuka Umunna a bi-election would seem fair.

Ed Robinson ● 1475d

Excatly via a bi election

Andy Pike ● 1475d

I suspect this is more about the MP trying to get in the best position for the next election and sticking one to the Tory Whip rather than any moral standing.All you have to look at is how he voted and what values he has expressed.https://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/25874/christian_wakeford/bury_south/votesI can't see the local Labour party being happy but seems a good fit for Starmer!

Ed Robinson ● 1475d

My error. Two Tory defections to Labour in the last 20 years before the latest one. Looks like three in the 30 years before that.

David Ainsworth ● 1475d

But we do not know what emails he received from his constituents or what they told him during surgeries.  It is only up to them to decide.

Ivonne Holliday ● 1475d

Exactly. So resign your seat and let your constituents decide.

Andy Pike ● 1475d

Perhaps it will backfire, I do not know.  But I suppose some of his constituents will not be happy while some others perhaps will.

Ivonne Holliday ● 1475d

Hi Ivonne. I've just been listening to some of his constituents talking to LBC reporters this afternoon, they are definitely not happy with him. They voted for the Conservatives, not for Mr Wakeford, and they do not want a Labour MP.  This will backfire on him.

Sue Hammond ● 1475d

He has made a point, though.He is perhaps committed to honesty and not to follow meekly a leader he no longer respects.You never know, his constituents may agree with him...

Ivonne Holliday ● 1475d

Exactly. If Wakeford is that committed let him fight for a Labour seat just like anybody else.

Sue Hammond ● 1475d

If he wants to leave the Tory party he should resign his seat and stand for Labour at a bi election.And what about the Labour candidate in this constituency who until this morning was carrying out Labour party duties.

Andy Pike ● 1475d

True.  We shall have to wait and see what happens.The famous inquiry, the report was going to be ready this week.  Now it is next week...

Ivonne Holliday ● 1475d

It is really shameful.

Ivonne Holliday ● 1475d

But Tories do not defect to Labour. It looks like over 20 years since the last one. Two or three in forty years.

David Ainsworth ● 1475d

Sky News:- "A Conservative MP told Sky News the Tory chief whip "hauled" Mr Wakeford in last night "and it sent him over the edge when they threatened his seat" with having its boundary changed."This is what bully tactics look like," the MP said."

David Ainsworth ● 1475d