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Tory MP defects to Labour – politicalbetting.com

SystemSystem Posts: 12,363
edited January 2022 in General
Tory MP defects to Labour – politicalbetting.com

A very warm welcome to Christian Wakeford MP!The new Labour MP for Bury South. ? pic.twitter.com/kfpbob6VC9

Read the full story here

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Comments

  • OnlyLivingBoyOnlyLivingBoy Posts: 16,270
    Not enough popcorn in the world for this.
  • SandyRentoolSandyRentool Posts: 22,570
    Happy days!
  • SandpitSandpit Posts: 56,022
    An actual floor-crossing at PMQs?
  • IanB2IanB2 Posts: 50,843
    Looks like it.

    His letter presumably won’t count now.
  • TheuniondivvieTheuniondivvie Posts: 42,986
    Sandpit said:

    An actual floor-crossing at PMQs?

    Just need a mace grabbing for full house.
  • Big_G_NorthWalesBig_G_NorthWales Posts: 64,800
    Boris must go and go now
  • ChameleonChameleon Posts: 4,264
    Poor Andrew Bowie on politics live, this is the stuff of nightmares for backbenchers.
  • HeathenerHeathener Posts: 7,085
    I suspect that this will actually help Boris.

    I wonder if Starmer is trying to keep Boris in place?
  • DecrepiterJohnLDecrepiterJohnL Posts: 29,656
    One less vonc vote. Good news for Boris.
  • RobDRobD Posts: 60,286
    IanB2 said:

    Looks like it.

    His letter presumably won’t count now.

    That must be right. Does it change the threshold?
  • alex_alex_ Posts: 7,518
    edited January 2022
    In negotiation for 4 months???

    What was happening in September to prompt that?
  • bigjohnowlsbigjohnowls Posts: 22,924
    SandyRentool said:

    A warm welcome to Comrade Wakeford.

    Any more to follow, I wonder?

    Really?
  • tlg86tlg86 Posts: 26,422
    When will the by-election be?
  • Big_G_NorthWalesBig_G_NorthWales Posts: 64,800
    tlg86 said:

    When will the by-election be?

    Apparently there won't be one
  • AnabobazinaAnabobazina Posts: 23,792
    bigjohnowls said:

    Another Tory MP in PLP


    LOL

    Boris fan please explain
  • tlg86tlg86 Posts: 26,422
    edited January 2022
    Big_G_NorthWales said:

    show previous quotes
    Apparently there won't be one
    Oh???

    i n n o c e n t f a c e
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 121,223
    tlg86 said:

    When will the by-election be?

    No by election, straight defection.
  • IanB2IanB2 Posts: 50,843
    RobD said:

    show previous quotes
    That must be right. Does it change the threshold?
    I am guessing not, as the loss of Paterson did
  • bigjohnowlsbigjohnowls Posts: 22,924
    Treacherous Pig Dog
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 121,223
    Perfect timing.

    Mike's busy and I'm with the other half.

    Christian Wakeford and Boris Johnson might end my relationship.
  • tlg86tlg86 Posts: 26,422
    Starmer wants Johnson to stay. He wouldn't have done this today if he didn't.
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 121,223
    alex_ said:

    In negotiation for 4 months???

    What was happening in September to prompt that?

    Afghanistan?
  • Big_G_NorthWalesBig_G_NorthWales Posts: 64,800
    Will this be Boris's last pmgs ?

    Fingers crossed
  • PolruanPolruan Posts: 2,083
    tlg86 said:

    When will the by-election be?

    Roughly the same time as the immediate general election that Johnson's successor will obviously feel obliged to call in order to the decent thing and ensure that their mandate is supported by the electorate at large.
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 126,333
    Wakeford merely trying to save his seat. Even if the Tories scraped a narrow 1992 style re election Labour would gain his Bury South seat.

    Nothing more
  • SandpitSandpit Posts: 56,022
    TheScreamingEagles said:

    Perfect timing.

    Mike's busy and I'm with the other half.

    Christian Wakeford and Boris Johnson might end my relationship.

    Worse for you than Mark Reckless?
  • Big_G_NorthWalesBig_G_NorthWales Posts: 64,800
    edited January 2022
    HYUFD said:

    Wakeford merely trying to save his seat. Even if the Tories scraped a narrow 1992 style re election Labour would gain his Bury South seat.

    Nothing more

    Of course you dismiss this
  • IanB2IanB2 Posts: 50,843
    HYUFD said:

    Wakeford merely trying to save his seat. Even if the Tories scraped a narrow 1992 style re election Labour would gain his Bury South seat.

    Nothing more

    It doesn’t need to be anything more. The red wall Tories know they are doomed under Johnson.
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 121,223
    Sandpit said:

    show previous quotes
    Worse for you than Mark Reckless?
    I was in a foul mood that day.

    He defected about five minutes after Everton scored an injury time equaliser in the Merseyside derby.
  • AnabobazinaAnabobazina Posts: 23,792
    tlg86 said:

    Starmer wants Johnson to stay. He wouldn't have done this today if he didn't.

    Of course he does, although I doubt this will have much of an effect on that either way.

    Still, it is an embarrassing disaster for the government and a hammer blow for the red wall caucus.
  • RazedabodeRazedabode Posts: 3,081
    Lol, Johnson really does not have a grip on his party at all. The whole thing looks absolutely shambolic
  • Sunil_PrasannanSunil_Prasannan Posts: 53,216
    It's like the 1990s all over again :lol:
  • OnlyLivingBoyOnlyLivingBoy Posts: 16,270
    HYUFD said:

    Wakeford merely trying to save his seat. Even if the Tories scraped a narrow 1992 style re election Labour would gain his Bury South seat.

    Nothing more

    There are no tanks in Baghdad...
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 75,291
    IanB2 said:

    Looks like it.

    His letter presumably won’t count now.

    Yes, great news for Boris.
    Is he therefore hoping for another ten or twenty defections ?
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 121,223
    Wakeford just walked into the chamber to massive cheers as he took his place on the Labour benches.
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 53,505
    Anabobazina said:

    show previous quotes
    LOL

    Boris fan please explain
    On topic - grimmest PMQ run up for the PM that I can remember.

    I think that @bigjohnowls is referring to the habit of certain ultra-ultra-left types of referring to everyone in the Labour party who isn't an ultra-ultra leftist as a Tory...
  • IanB2IanB2 Posts: 50,843
    Razedabode said:

    Lol, Johnson really does not have a grip on his party at all. The whole thing looks absolutely shambolic

    Their heavy handed threats to try and get loyalty has backfired
  • tlg86tlg86 Posts: 26,422
    Polruan said:

    show previous quotes
    Roughly the same time as the immediate general election that Johnson's successor will obviously feel obliged to call in order to the decent thing and ensure that their mandate is supported by the electorate at large.
    I don't understand why you wouldn't call a by-election. Surely you want the publicity of saying "look, I'm giving the people the chance to validate my decision, etc. etc."
  • mwadamsmwadams Posts: 3,771
    HYUFD said:

    Wakeford merely trying to save his seat. Even if the Tories scraped a narrow 1992 style re election Labour would gain his Bury South seat.

    Nothing more

    Ah, yes. Crossing the floor is super-common for MPs worried about their parliamentary majorities in what is nominally mid-term. Happens every day.
  • bigjohnowlsbigjohnowls Posts: 22,924
    Heathener said:

    I suspect that this will actually help Boris.

    I wonder if Starmer is trying to keep Boris in place?

    Agreed it will help Boris

    Starmer will not want to keep Boris in place IMO as only Boris can keep former Labour voters in place
  • EabhalEabhal Posts: 9,787
    I love politics

    🍿
  • IanB2IanB2 Posts: 50,843
    Idiot LauraK thinking Wendy is the by-election winner
  • SandpitSandpit Posts: 56,022
    Here goes!
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 126,333
    edited January 2022
    Corbynistas not happy.

    'You realise right, that centrist Labour sabotaged two general elections? This just shows Labour are actually Tory 2, the backup team. Pointless.'
    https://twitter.com/raystonian/status/1483769632431480832?s=20

    'You see the problem with Labour taking tories into its ranks though?'
    https://twitter.com/FALLLFAN/status/1483770154513272837?s=20

    'I can't believe I have to explain this, but winning an election is meaningless if the only material change is the colour and name of the governing party'
    https://twitter.com/thetertus/status/1483769753638424579?s=20

    'More Tories in the Parliamentary Labour Party. That’s *exactly* what we need.'
    https://twitter.com/MrGeorgePRS/status/1483769897612161026?s=20
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 75,291
    bigjohnowls said:

    Treacherous Pig Dog

    Didn't you recently switch yourself ?
  • Stark_DawningStark_Dawning Posts: 9,932
    edited January 2022
    alex_ said:

    In negotiation for 4 months???

    What was happening in September to prompt that?

    Wasn't that the same time there were rumours of five Labour MPs about to defect to the Tories? How bizarre.
  • JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 44,888
    A question I asked years ago:

    If you send a letter to Brady (not old lady...), can you recall it if you want? I.e. send in a letter contradicting it.

    If not, do letters have a lifetime? If I was an MP and sent it in two years ago, does it still count?
  • IanB2IanB2 Posts: 50,843
    Wendy nicking Starmer first question
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 64,716
    His suit is back to being a mess.
  • BigRichBigRich Posts: 3,492
    tlg86 said:

    show previous quotes
    I don't understand why you wouldn't call a by-election. Surely you want the publicity of saying "look, I'm giving the people the chance to validate my decision, etc. etc."
    presumably because of the small, but not negligible, chance that he will not re-win the seat.
  • IanB2IanB2 Posts: 50,843
    edited January 2022
    JosiasJessop said:

    A question I asked years ago:

    If you send a letter to Brady (not old lady...), can you recall it if you want? I.e. send in a letter contradicting it.

    If not, do letters have a lifetime? If I was an MP and sent it in two years ago, does it still count?

    Yes, and no (they last for ever, until withdrawn)
  • TOPPINGTOPPING Posts: 43,563
    Seems to have a bit of his mojo back, upon opening remarks.

    The questions from Lab might be just single-toned and if he has prepped he will be able to bat them away.
  • PolruanPolruan Posts: 2,083
    tlg86 said:

    show previous quotes
    I don't understand why you wouldn't call a by-election. Surely you want the publicity of saying "look, I'm giving the people the chance to validate my decision, etc. etc."
    Yeah, to be fair in this case, where I'm sure he'd win, it would be a nice bit of publicity - but I'm not sure either party would like to set the precedent that a fresh mandate is required. That said, maybe it would be in Labour's interest to do it and then use that to claim the moral high ground when the next Tory PM refuses to call an election.
  • TOPPINGTOPPING Posts: 43,563
    Ah the line is wait for the enquiry.
  • tlg86tlg86 Posts: 26,422
    JosiasJessop said:

    A question I asked years ago:

    If you send a letter to Brady (not old lady...), can you recall it if you want? I.e. send in a letter contradicting it.

    If not, do letters have a lifetime? If I was an MP and sent it in two years ago, does it still count?

    Yes, it counts until you retract it.
  • bigjohnowlsbigjohnowls Posts: 22,924
    SouthamObserver said:

    Hugely symbolic on so many levels. The one I like the best is that Bury South has a large Jewish community. The pain Corbyn caused there must have been immense. Wakeford - who is co-chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on British Jews - would never dared have moved if he felt Labour had not made substantial progress in tackling its anti-Semitism problem.

    Hugely symbolic in that SKS is happy to sit with Tories
  • IanB2IanB2 Posts: 50,843
    edited January 2022
    tlg86 said:

    show previous quotes
    I don't understand why you wouldn't call a by-election. Surely you want the publicity of saying "look, I'm giving the people the chance to validate my decision, etc. etc."
    Right now it’s probably be a safe bet, as well

    But it might dicourage les autres
  • JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 44,888
    If I was a Tory MP, I would not boo Wakeford, or denigrate him (publicly, at least). I'd just go for regret: he's a good man, and was a good colleague, but he's made the wrong decision.
  • AnabobazinaAnabobazina Posts: 23,792
    TimS said:

    This is great for Starmer, not so much because it weakens an already weak government, but because it sends a very powerful signal that Labour is no longer under the control of the loony left, and is once again a safe bet for wavering centrist types to vote for. It's hard to imagine a defection like this under Corbyn.

    Yes, I remember many voices saying Shaun Woodward's 1999 defection was bad for Labour as it showed that they weren't true socialists. Of course, if anything it had the opposite effect, showing that Labour had changed and could attract centrists.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 75,291
    bigjohnowls said:

    show previous quotes
    Hugely symbolic in that SKS is happy to sit with Tories
    Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.
  • AslanAslan Posts: 1,673
    TheScreamingEagles said:

    show previous quotes
    No by election, straight defection.
    This is very wrong. I am a centrist but the Kippers were willing to put their change of allegiance to the voters. Centrist MPs are too elitist to let their constituents have their say. Pure cowardice.
  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 30,609
    Boris is doing really really well so far.
  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 33,927
    The Tories in Bury South clearly did a useless job of selecting a candidate before the last election.
  • RazedabodeRazedabode Posts: 3,081
    IanB2 said:

    show previous quotes
    Their heavy handed threats to try and get loyalty has backfired
    I’m looking at Johnson now at PMQs, with his shaggy, bowl cut hair and ill fitting suit and I’m wondering how he inspires loyalty, perhaps HFUYD can tell us?

    Starmer has his mojo back at PMQs
  • TOPPINGTOPPING Posts: 43,563
    Good SKS opening remarks
  • JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 44,888
    Killer line by Starmer.
  • IanB2IanB2 Posts: 50,843
    Starmers asking his same first question anyway
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 53,505
    Polruan said:

    show previous quotes
    Yeah, to be fair in this case, where I'm sure he'd win, it would be a nice bit of publicity - but I'm not sure either party would like to set the precedent that a fresh mandate is required. That said, maybe it would be in Labour's interest to do it and then use that to claim the moral high ground when the next Tory PM refuses to call an election.
    The last sentence - a by-election would be a bit risky for Labour (but not very, at the moment). Claiming the moral high ground might be a good step for them....
  • AnabobazinaAnabobazina Posts: 23,792
    Starmer loving this.

    Absolutely great line: "Given the noise from the Tory backbench, I guess the chief whip has told them to bring their own booze."
  • OmniumOmnium Posts: 11,334
    My god - Starmer made a successful joke! That's a first!
  • HeathenerHeathener Posts: 7,085
    Blimey. Starmer on fine form. Wiping the floor with Johnson.
  • TimSTimS Posts: 14,471
    boulay said:

    Regardless of Boris being crap I really don’t agree with MPs switching parties like this - really think morally they should trigger a by-election as in most cases they are elected as a member of their original party.

    If they believe that the other party is better for the country then they should have the courage of their convictions that their constituents would agree and vote for them in their new party.

    Would be more honest or fair to resign the whip and act as an Independent IMHO.

    It's a perfectly logical function of our FPTP system, where individual constituency MPs are elected to represent an area and are free to decide at any time whether or not to take a party whip. Other (more proportional) electoral systems are available.

    In pure parliamentary terms there is not much meaningful difference between being a rebel MP who routinely votes against their party whip (e.g. Corbyn, Skinner, or the Maastricht rebels) and taking a different party whip. Only when it comes to a vote of confidence, but with a majority as big as Boris has that's a moot point anyway.
  • CookieCookie Posts: 14,644
    HYUFD said:

    Wakeford merely trying to save his seat. Even if the Tories scraped a narrow 1992 style re election Labour would gain his Bury South seat.

    Nothing more

    Puts me in mind of this:
    https://i.imgur.com/X7kKDcX.jpeg

    If I was better technically I'd embed it as an image!
  • TOPPINGTOPPING Posts: 43,563
    Very punchy BoJo - MPs loving it not sure if the cheering is 54 voices short; doesn't sound like it.
  • EabhalEabhal Posts: 9,787
    He has the same stain on this suit as on his grey one.

    One for the Sherlocks among us.
  • eekeek Posts: 29,399
    JosiasJessop said:

    If I was a Tory MP, I would not boo Wakeford, or denigrate him (publicly, at least). I'd just go for regret: he's a good man, and was a good colleague, but he's made the wrong decision.

    He's prolonged his career from 2023 to probably 2035 or so as a minimum.
  • HeathenerHeathener Posts: 7,085
    Starmer at his very, very, best. Clinically forensic.

    This is agony for Johnson.
  • IanB2IanB2 Posts: 50,843
    The PM daren’t go anywhere near answering these questions
  • CarlottaVanceCarlottaVance Posts: 60,281
    Richard_Nabavi said:

    And he's done it properly, crossing the floor at PMQs. Nice to see a return to the great traditions.

    And wearing a Union Jack face mask in case anyone thinks he’s unpatriotic.
  • AlistairMAlistairM Posts: 2,005
    edited January 2022
    Interesting to look at Christian Wakeford's website: https://www.christianwakeford.org.uk/

    Other than it having a blue theme I could not see one mention of him being a Conservative. I'm guessing he was fairly soft to begin with.

    Changing his website to Labour will only need a quick update to his CSS to switch from blue to red.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 75,291
    edited January 2022
    This was quite amusing in the BBC coverage.
    ...One cabinet minister blamed Covid for the behaviour of the new intake. This minister said that Covid restrictions, which have kept many MPs away from Westminster for large chunks of the last two years, meant they had not been properly “socialised”....
  • TOPPINGTOPPING Posts: 43,563
    edited January 2022
    IanB2 said:

    The PM daren’t go anywhere near answering these questions

    No PM ever goes anywhere near answering the LOTO's questions at PMQs.
  • IshmaelZIshmaelZ Posts: 21,830
    Eabhal said:

    He has the same stain on this suit as on his grey one.

    One for the Sherlocks among us.

    Posseting
  • IanB2IanB2 Posts: 50,843
    Starmer pointing out that Johnson is effectively accusing his own staff of lying
  • AslanAslan Posts: 1,673
    LostPassword said:

    show previous quotes
    There are huge numbers of Irish people living and working in Britain. I don't see the Irish government wanting to walk away from the CTA post-unification - and I'd imagine ending it would do a lot to alienate those who would prefer Union with London to Union with Dublin.

    I'm confident the CTA will continue for at least another century.
    Once Irish unification happens there will be no going back to union with London. Those with British passports can continue to move freely. But there would be no reason to maintain special privileges for the Irish. Especially while they free ride on our defence umbrella and leech off our taxation base with their dodgy tax regime. If they want to continue to get the benefits of living and voting in Britain, they can meet the earning threshold and swear allegiance to HMQ.
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 64,716
    Johnson blathering his way around. Totally drowning.
  • AnabobazinaAnabobazina Posts: 23,792
    Starmer pissing himself laughing
  • IanB2IanB2 Posts: 50,843
    AlistairM said:

    Interesting to look at Christian Wakeford's website: https://www.christianwakeford.org.uk/

    Other than it having a blue theme I could not see one mention of him being a Conservative. I'm guessing he was fairly soft to begin with.

    Changing his website to Labour will only need a quick update to his CSS to switch from blue to red.

    I suspect it may have been trimmed quite recently?
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 64,716
    Forensic.
  • HeathenerHeathener Posts: 7,085
    It's over isn't it?
  • TOPPINGTOPPING Posts: 43,563
    SKS in danger of enjoying himself too much. Laughing and snorting to himself and the audience. Either this is (literally) deadly serious (ref: HMQ) or it is not. SKS is slightly in no mans land.
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 64,716
    He's like a broken record. "wait for Gray, wait for Gray"
This discussion has been closed.