Another Tory MP defects to Labour!

maddyone

What I don’t understand is her motivation. Why did she do it as she’s clearly very right wing. She must have an end game in mind but what it is I fail to understand. Why didn’t she just resign at the end of this parliamentary term?

She is a Johnson supporter, thereby Sunak is not her favourite.

So having the opportunity to embarrass Sunak is not to be missed.

What I don’t understand is her motivation. Why did she do it as she’s clearly very right wing. She must have an end game in mind but what it is I fail to understand. Why didn’t she just resign at the end of this parliamentary term?

OH reckons that she'll have a book coming out any day soon.
We'll see if he's right. If so, another one for the pulper with any luck.
I'm dismayed that Labour have accepted her into the party.

Galaxy

Because what does MPs leaving the Tories actually matter. We know what is going to happen to the conservatives in the election. The story is the decision made by the labour party.

In one Galaxy. 👏
The Tories are pretty irrelevant to us all now. Too little, too late.

I dont vote conservative, chocolate, I expect the party I vote for and am a member of to be better, otherwise what's the point. I am paying towards the party that has just done this.
We all have a line and maybe this one is mine.

Sorry Chocolatelovingran - typo on your name in previous post🙈

As I have said before, she is a thoroughly unpleasant woman, previously the wife of a thoroughly unpleasant man. But..Was it OK for this woman to be a Conservative MP, Galaxy? I don't see criticism for the party which selected her, and supported her campaign

Agree chicolatelovingran. This entire issue has been twisted into a ‘problem’ for Labour when, in fact, it’s a problem for the Conservatives.

As I have said before, she is a thoroughly unpleasant woman, previously the wife of a thoroughly unpleasant man.
But..

Was it OK for this woman to be a Conservative MP, Galaxy? I don't see criticism for the party which selected her, and supported her campaign.

If a Labour MP had decided to defect to the Tories, would Sunak have done the same as KS?

It's not smart, it's a lack of principle, it's an absolute disregard for any kind of principle.
Yes welcoming a woman who basically described women who have been sexually assaulted as asking for it, what a stroke of genius. That's not radical its regressive.

Labour doesn’t need her contribution to housing policy

Correct winterehite. He doesn’t need her contribution - realistically, she won’t contribute to anything. He’s used her to embarrass the Tories - well done!

Because this was all about performative politics - she knows that and so does Starmer

Exactly WWM! It’s about KS playing the same political ‘games’ that the Conservatives play all the time. This has succeeded in embarrassing Sunak in full public view on national TV at the start of PMQs. That timing was no coincidence. KS is showing his metal and demonstrating strategic ruthlessness. He’s far more radical than people give him credit for. Smart political move Keir!

If he’d refused to accept her no one need have known about it unless she told them. Which would have put her in an even worse light and him in a good one. He should have shown principle.
Labour doesn’t need her contribution to housing policy. Or members with a reputation like hers. Or new members who turn the party into a laughing stock.
I’m disappointed in Keir Starmer.

Galaxy

And as I say everytime he talks about violence against women and girls I will know its meaningless. So yes she may disappear and yes labour will win the election, there are other forms of damage though.

That’s your right of course, even though I think it’s extremely unfair and pretty damning! In my opinion, you are wrong, but again we are both able to express our opinions freely.

And as I say everytime he talks about violence against women and girls I will know its meaningless. So yes she may disappear and yes labour will win the election, there are other forms of damage though.

Whitewavemark2

This is only a 5 minute wonder. And although I’m very uncomfortable with such an unpleasant person in the Labour Party, the truth is that it will make no difference to labour, nor will it be remembered.

The damage that is being done is to the Tory party. That is what will be remembered when we look back - how the Tory party lost so many MPs in the run up to the election, either through resignation, standing down or defecting.

Ask yourself - her natural home is the reform party. Why didn’t she join Lee Anderson?

Because this was all about performative politics - she knows that and so does Starmer.

I agree.

Galaxy

What would have happened if he had said no. How would that have damaged him.

I don’t actually know Galaxy, do you? But I’m pretty sure some would have heavily criticised him for it!

He’s in opposition yet he’s called Captain Hindsight by his detractors, and other much less pleasant things. He has no power other to challenge the current, which is the oppositions main role. Actually it was he who called for a windfall tax first?

Ilovecheese

He, Starmer could overide the CLP decision if he wants her that much.
I do agree that he should have said no to her.

I would imagine that she has served her purpose by sticking it to the government yesterday.

She will now disappear into oblivion.

Thanks for the clarification, everyone.

Accepting her may send a message to wavering tories that it’s ok to vote Labour
And she’s standing down so no long term risk

He, Starmer could overide the CLP decision if he wants her that much.
I do agree that he should have said no to her.

This is only a 5 minute wonder. And although I’m very uncomfortable with such an unpleasant person in the Labour Party, the truth is that it will make no difference to labour, nor will it be remembered.

The damage that is being done is to the Tory party. That is what will be remembered when we look back - how the Tory party lost so many MPs in the run up to the election, either through resignation, standing down or defecting.

Ask yourself - her natural home is the reform party. Why didn’t she join Lee Anderson?

Because this was all about performative politics - she knows that and so does Starmer.

Callistemon21

Galaxy

What would have happened if he had said no. How would that have damaged him.

Surely candidates who want to stand for a particular party are out through a selection process?

I'm sure, had he said to her that her very right-wing politics did not resonate with the ethos of the Labour Party and all it stands for, that might have been a better way forward.
She has used him.

Many Labour MPs are not at all happy with his decision.

I can't see any CLP letting her through a selection process, very damaged goods

Thats what I'm trying to work out, Galaxy. I would have said no.

Having her in the LP means that she will have to take the Labour whip, so, for example, she couldn't abstain on 3 line whip. Nor can she vote for any tory measure, as she would have been able to do as an independent.

If the trickle of rats leaving the sinking ship becomes a flood to the LP this could cause problems for passing the government's legislation. for example, if it trys to legislate to leave the ECHR