Current location:health >>
Conservative MP Dan Poulter defects to Labour in the latest blow to Rishi Sunak
health2People have gathered around
IntroductionConservative MP Dan Poulter has defected to Labour in the latest blow to Rishi Sunak's government. T ...
Conservative MP Dan Poulter has defected to Labour in the latest blow to Rishi Sunak's government.
The ex-health minister, who works part time as a doctor, said he found it 'increasingly difficult to look his NHS colleagues in the eye' while being a Tory.
He claimed the Conservatives were not prioritising public services, saying they no longer had a 'compassionate view about supporting the more disadvantaged in society'.
Dr Poulter added that he had 'no animus' towards Rishi Sunak but urged the Prime Minister to call a general election 'as soon as possible'.
The move comes as another blow to Mr Sunak, who only yesterday brushed off rumours that he would call a general election next week in a bid to thwart a possible leadership challenge from restive MPs.
Conservative MP Dan Poulter who announced he has defected to Labour in the latest blow to Rishi Sunak 's government
The ex-health minister, who works part time as a doctor, said he found it 'increasingly difficult to look his NHS colleagues in the eye' while being a Tory
The move comes as another blow to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (pictured)
Dr Poulter told The BBC: 'I found it increasingly difficult to look my NHS colleagues in the eye, my patients in the eye, and my constituents in the eye with good conscience.'
READ MORE: Grant Shapps says now is 'not the time or place' for a Tory leadership battle - as defence secretary tells rebel MPs plotting of ousting Rishi Sunak to 'let him get on with the job'Advertisement
'The difficulty for the Conservative Party is that the party I was elected into valued public services... it had a compassionate view about supporting the more disadvantaged in society.
'I think the Conservative Party today is in a very different place.'
Downing Street has been informed of the move, although it has not yet responded, according to The BBC.
Meanwhile Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer has welcomed the news. He wrote on social media: 'It's fantastic to welcome Dr Dan Poulter MP to today's changed Labour Party.
'It's time to end the Conservative chaos, turn the page and get Britain's future back. I'm really pleased that Dan has decided to join us on this journey.'
Dr Poulter confirmed he will sit as a Labour MP until the general election, when he will then stand down from his role.
Dr Dan Poulter (right) with fellow Tory MPs Nadhim Zahawi (left) and Guy Opperman in the Lobby of the Palace of Westminster in 2011
Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer who today welcomed the news or Dr Poulter's defection
Announcing his defection to Labour in the Observer newspaper Dr Poulter said Rishi Sunak should call a general election 'as soon as possible'.
READ MORE: Labour must match the Tories on defence spending, former Army chief warns Keir StarmerAdvertisement
He wrote: 'I believe it is now incumbent on me as a medical practitioner passionately committed to our NHS to throw my weight behind the Labour Party in its determination to ensure we again have a health service of which we can be proud, and which best meets the needs of every patient.
'It is abundantly clear to me that the Labour Party alone has the will and the trust to restore and reform the NHS. That's why we need a Labour government, and why I believe Keir Starmer must lead that government as our next prime minister.'
Dr Poulter defended his decision to defect, despite being voted in by his constituents as a Conservative party member.
He dismissed the prospect of continuing as a Tory MP until the general election and then standing down or calling a by-election, insisting it was 'better to work for my constituents [as a Labour MP] through to the end of this Parliament'.
Dr Poulter served as health minister under David Cameron's coalition government for a number of years after first being elected in 2010
Dr Poulter served as health minister under David Cameron's coalition government for a number of years after first being elected in 2010.
He won a 23,391 majority in his constituency of Central Suffolk and North Ipswich in the 2019 General Election.
He becomes only the third Conservative MP to defect from the party since 2019, following in the footsteps of Christian Wakeford who also defected to Labour in 2022.
Former Tory party chairman Lee Anderson also joined Reform last month.
Meanwhile some 64 Conservative MPs have announced they are either standing down from the Commons or not seeking re-election in their current constituencies at the next election.
Ex-cabinet ministers planning to step aside at the next election includes former chancellors Sajid Javid and Kwasi Kwarteng , ex-defence secretary Ben Wallace , former transport secretary Chris Grayling, and ex-business secretary Sir Alok Sharma.
Former Conservative Prime Minister Theresa May also announced in March that she would not stand again.
Tags:
Reprint:Friends are welcome to share on the Internet, but please indicate the source of the article when reprinting it.“Global Gist news portal”。http://guatemala.arnoldview.org/article-77c199726.html
Related articles
Britain's new bonkers EV: Callum Skye is an £80k electric buggy built in Warwickshire
healthBritain has a new sports car. But it's not like anything else you've seen on the road before.Callum, ...
【health】
Read moreAnimals eat Halloween pumpkins in Zoo Budapest and Botanical Garden
healthA wolverine eats a Halloween pumpkin in Zoo Budapest and Botanical Garden in Budapest, Hungary on Oc ...
【health】
Read moreVillage benefits from ecological improvement of Erhai Lake in Yunnan
healthAerial photo taken on Sept. 14, 2020 shows the view of Gusheng Village in Dali, southwest China's Yu ...
【health】
Read more
Popular articles
- 'Constantly learning' Imanaga off to impressive start with the Chicago Cubs
- People go outside to enjoy scenery of flowers in many parts of China
- Swans pictured at lake in Shandong
- In pics: natural landscapes in Africa
- Iran helicopter crash that killed President Raisi could reverberate across the Middle East
- China's tourism market embraces robust recovery over May Day holiday
Latest articles
Kristin Cavallari, 37, ignores critics of her age
Animals eat Halloween pumpkins in Zoo Budapest and Botanical Garden
Flowers seen in suburb forest of Minsk
Xi Story: A Farmland Visitor and the Vision for China's Food Security
Pentagon vows to keep weapons moving to Ukraine as Kyiv faces a renewed assault by Russia
In pics: natural landscapes in Africa
LINKS
- Vegas use of injured reserve prompts questions about salary cap. Other NHL teams do same thing
- SZA calls out Australians over 'disgusting' act at her Melbourne show
- Closing prices for crude oil, gold and other commodities
- Judge denies pretrial release of a man charged with killing a Chicago police officer
- How major US stock indexes fared Friday, 5/3/2024
- Leprosy spread between people and red SQUIRRELS in medieval England, study reveals
- Yankees ace Gerrit Cole throws 15 fastballs in first bullpen session since injuring elbow
- Kathryn Newton is ultra chic in head
- Bayern left back Guerreiro sustains injury before Real Madrid in Champions League semifinal
- King Charles takes on more than 200 new patronages from late Queen