Tory MP defects to Labour

[papasmurf]

?

I don't quite follow that, 

That is obvious. 

[B0ycey]

?

I don't quite follow that, but I will bet you and Boysie 20 pounds each that Wakeford won't represent Bury South after 2024.

Deal?

Don't know how that is going to work with two Internet users who don't know each other, but I have no issue taking away your cash given the outrage right now and BoJo is hanging on come what May.

[Borchester]

A suspicion is not a certainty.

?

I don't quite follow that, but I will bet you and Boysie 20 pounds each that Wakeford won't represent Bury South after 2024.

Deal?

[srb7677]

I do not have too long before I have to leave for work, so just a few brief points for now.

Firstly, the defection of a Tory MP to Labour, and David Davis telling Bozo - for us all to hear - that it is time for him to go, taken together is a staggering blow for the Tories. I expect that the days of Bozo as PM are numbered now, and there will be news of a leadership election within days if not hours.

As far as the defecting MP goes, this is unfortunately a boost for Starmer which risks building a head of steam. Because whilst I do not want a Tory majority next time, I do not want one for Starmer's Labour either. The least bad option is a hung parliament in which Labour has to cooperate with others, the price of which will be delivery of some form of PR. Then once that is in place we can start to break down the two party duopoly. So it is essential even from my left wing perspective that the Tories get their act together, which can only really be achieved now by replacing Bozo.

As to the motives of the MP concerned, to some extent there is naked self interest afoot. He has made the political calculation that as a Tory he is toast where he is come the next election and thinks he stands a better chance of keeping his job as a Labour MP.

As for the rights and wrongs of such a decision, I have long held the view that any MP defecting to another party, or defecting to form a new party, ought to hold a byelection so that his or her constituents can ratify or reject their decision. This has never been a partisan thing for me, it doesn't matter who is defecting from whom and to whom. This ought to be a legal requirement but sadly isn't. So as ever we have to rely on the moral integrity of the MP concerned to do the right thing. Past precedent however is not promising. Very few MPs who have ever defected from one party to another have ever done this. So I doubt this one will.

One last brief point. Most of us on the left have been noting how Tories seem to be so much more welcome in the Labour party than socialists. Which simply confirms to us that it is not a party we can ever support right now.

[Good old]

Thats the spirit just one thing it is just one man and he doesn't decide how Wakefield votes.

Didn't I reflect that? I thought I did. It's an irony , in so much as who would have thought you would have Tories saying to traditional Labour voters, this is the way to go. And two minutes later the Tory , turns out to  be less Tory than his electorate. It's almost funny, except it's not funny just a reflection of confusion.

[Sheepy]

It's hardly a great victory, we merely take in a deserter. Fair enough, he isn't the first or last. In fact he is in illustrious company. The God like W Churchill crossed the floor,to the Liberals.
If this nation needs Wakefields change of sides to know for them selves , many of them have been backing an unreliable  dud. It doesn't bode well for any of our futures.

Thats the spirit just one thing it is just one man and he doesn't decide how Wakefield votes. 

[Good old]

Oh come now Good Old you have struck a great victory over the Tories I am enjoying the victory dance. Make up something about the Red Wall that never existed oh go on.

It's hardly a great victory, we merely take in a deserter. Fair enough, he isn't the first or last. In fact he is in illustrious company. The God like W Churchill crossed the floor,to the Liberals.
If this nation needs Wakefields change of sides to know for them selves , many of them have been backing an unreliable  dud. It doesn't bode well for any of our futures.

[Sheepy]

The crossing of Wakefield, is not really that significant, in its self, these types of crossing the floor rarely actually work out that well.
If it reflects on so called red wall voters finally opening theirs eyes, then maybe it carries more weight, but only an election would show that.
The real problem for Boris, and those that cling around him, is the dramatic, request from Davis  for him to go. Because Davis, has peddled his stuff around the party for years, is even a brexiteer,
he has the ear of many in that party, and it's pretty clear he does not just speak for himself.
Boris, was at least fighting clumsily at times but the fight was there. Davis, delivered a blow on the end of his chin,  and Boris, was visibly taken back if not floored.  But it was obvious that one hurt. There was no faking the , none of this hurts, because that one  did.

Oh come now Good Old you have struck a great victory over the Tories I am enjoying the victory dance. Make up something about the Red Wall that never existed oh go on.

[Good old]

The crossing of Wakefield, is not really that significant, in its self, these types of crossing the floor rarely actually work out that well.
If it reflects on so called red wall voters finally opening theirs eyes, then maybe it carries more weight, but only an election would show that.
The real problem for Boris, and those that cling around him, is the dramatic, request from Davis  for him to go. Because Davis, has peddled his stuff around the party for years, is even a brexiteer,
he has the ear of many in that party, and it's pretty clear he does not just speak for himself.
Boris, was at least fighting clumsily at times but the fight was there. Davis, delivered a blow on the end of his chin,  and Boris, was visibly taken back if not floored.  But it was obvious that one hurt. There was no faking the , none of this hurts, because that one  did.

[papasmurf]

I will lay you a score he ain't.

A suspicion is not a certainty. 

[Sheepy]

I will lay you a score he ain't.

I will double that, because the Westminster party won't have any MP's the way they are going. 

[B0ycey]

Wakeford may be a man of principle, but he isn't much of a tactician.

On the contrary. He sits on a marginal constituency that lent him their vote and must have been having a significant amount of hate mail recently. The question isn't whether he made the right decision. But whether more red seat constituencies follow suit. Because let's be honest, Starmer, Blackford, Davey whoever, they don't care whether Johnson  leaves or not. The longer he stay on the longer the Tories fight amongst themselves.

[B0ycey]

 

I suspect he will still be an MP after the next general election.

Totally agree Pappy.

[Borchester]

I suspect he will still be an MP after the next general election.

I will lay you a score he ain't.

[Borchester]

That was more than a show stopper. Johnson not answering a single question and deflecting all of them onto jabs that nobody gives a shit about, Davis has just made the headlines and that is all of what anyone is going to print.

He doesn't have to answer any questions. And the only honest answer to is he an immoral little shit cannot be answered. However,  the real question is are the Tories going to tear the party apart in a show of righteous indignation or will they settle for giving him a good kicking and then spend the next couple of years mending fences and preparing for 2024

We shall see