Tory MP defects to Brown

Davies criticises Cameron's lack of substance

Tuesday, 26, Jun 2007 12:00

A Conservative MP has defected to Labour, after issuing a highly critical assessment of David Cameron's leadership.

Quentin Davies, the MP for Grantham and Stamford, said the Tory party had ceased to collectively believe in anything under Mr Cameron's leadership and is instead driven by PR.

In an open letter to the Tory leader Mr Davies goes on to praise Gordon Brown, in a welcome boost on the eve of his premiership.

Mr Davies accused the Conservative party of losing its bedrock and sense of mission under a leader characterised by superficiality and a lack of convictions.

In response he will join a party with a "clear vision" for the future.

The pro-European MP did not vote for Mr Cameron in the 2005 leadership contest, instead opting for former chancellor Kenneth Clarke.

Despite launching a clear criticism of Mr Cameron's leadership, he insists he has no personal animosity towards the politician he described as "intelligent and charming".

Mr Davies wrote: "As you know, however, I never supported you for the leadership of the party - even when, after my preferred candidate, Ken Clarke, had been defeated in the first round, it was blindingly obvious that you were going to win.

"Although you have many positive qualities you have three, superficiality, unreliability and an apparent lack of any clear convictions, which in my view ought to exclude you from the position of national leadership to which you aspire and which it is the presumed purpose of the Conservative party to achieve."

"Believing that as I do, I clearly cannot honestly remain in the party. I do not intend to leave public life.

"On the contrary I am looking forward to joining another party with which I have found increasingly I am naturally in agreement and which has just acquired a leader I have always greatly admired, who I believe is entirely straightforward, and who has a towering record, and a clear vision for the future of our country which I fully share."

Mr Davies said he was releasing the letter to the press for the benefit of his constituents.

The backbench MP had clashed with Mr Cameron before, describing his call for an immediate inquiry into the Iraq war as "crazy".

Although not the most high profile scalp Mr Brown could claim, given the timing of the move it will be asked whether Mr Davies was encouraged to cross the Commons.

Mr Brown has promised to form a government of "all the talents" and last week it emerged he had invited senior Liberal Democrats into his Cabinet.

Mr Davies follows past Tory defectors Alan Howarth and Shaun Woodward.