On 19 January 2022, the Conservative MP Christian Wakeford crossed the floor of the House of Commons to join the Labour Party. The defection was announced at 11:58 am – just two minutes before the start of prime minister’s questions. At the time, Boris Johnson, the prime minister, was under intense pressure over reports of gatherings in Downing Street at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Wakeford, who had secured the ‘red wall’ seat of Bury South at the 2019 general election by just 402 votes, was the first sitting Conservative to join Labour in 15 years. His immediate predecessor in this regard was Quentin Davies, who defected from the Conservatives to Labour in June 2007.

Wakeford’s defection followed months of discussions between the MP and Labour representatives.

***

In November 2021, during his tenure as a Conservative MP, Wakeford had rebelled over the government’s attempts to reform standards rules in light of a finding against Owen Paterson. By the time of his defection, Wakeford had submitted a letter of no confidence in Boris Johnson to Sir Graham Brady, chair of the 1922 committee of Conservative backbenchers.

Wakeford, a Conservative member for 20 years, reportedly worked closely with Labour MP Barry Gardiner on the latter’s campaign to ban the firing and rehiring of employees. Wakeford was the only Tory MP to support Gardiner’s Employment and Trade Union Rights (Dismissal and Re-engagement) Bill.

In his resignation letter, Wakeford cited the prime minister’s conduct during the Partygate scandal, accusing the government of “trying to defend the indefensible”.

He wrote that Britain needed “a government that upholds the highest standards of integrity and probity in public life and sadly both you and the Conservative Party as a whole have shown themselves incapable of offering the leadership and government this country deserves.”

Wakeford added: “My decision is about much more than your leadership and the disgraceful way you have conducted yourself in recent weeks.

“However, I don’t believe all politicians are the same and I do believe in the power of politics to be a force for good. So does Keir Starmer.”

Starmer welcomed Wakeford to the Labour benches at prime minister’s questions.

The Labour leader stated: “Can I start by warmly welcoming [Wakeford] to his new place in the House and to the parliamentary Labour party?

“Like so many people up and down the country, he has concluded that the prime minister and the Conservative Party have shown themselves incapable of offering the leadership and government this country deserves, whereas the Labour party stands ready to provide an alternative government that the country can be proud of.”

Starmer argued that Wakeford’s defection was proof that the Labour Party had “changed”.

He said: “[Wakeford], and anyone else who wants to build a new Britain built on decency, security, prosperity and respect, is welcome in my Labour Party.”

Boris Johnson responded: “As for Bury South, let me say to [Starmer] that the Conservative Party won Bury South for the first time in generations under this prime minister, with an agenda of uniting, levelling up and delivering for the people of Bury South, and we will win again in Bury South at the next election under this prime minister.”

In the face of heckling from the government benches, Starmer quipped that the chief whip had told them to “bring their own boos.” It followed the revelation of a “bring your own booze” gathering held in 10 Downing Street at the height of lockdown.

***

Wakeford was subsequently removed from the 2019-intake WhatsApp group by his former colleague, Conservative MP Aaron Bell.

https://x.com/breeallegretti/status/1483771297054273539

Wakeford later alleged he had been subjected to blackmail by the government Whips’ Office during his time as a Tory MP.

He cited a threat that funding for a new high school in Radcliffe would be withheld if he did not vote with the government on free school meals. He alleged that the former education secretary, Gavin Williamson, was behind the threat.

Wakeford said: “I was threatened that I would not get a school for Radcliffe if I did not vote in one particular way. This is a town that has not had a high school for the best part of 10 years.

“How would you feel when they hold back the regeneration of a town for a vote. It didn’t sit comfortably. That was the start of me questioning my place, where I was and ultimately to where I am now.”

Williamson responded: “I don’t have any recollection of the conversation as described but what I do remember is working tirelessly with Christian and others in order to be able to deliver this school, which I did.”

In December 2022, Wakeford apologised for previously claiming asylum seekers “have a shopping trolley as to what they want as economic migrants”. The comments came as Wakeford, then a Conservative MP, backed the Nationality and Borders Bill in July 2021.

He told the commons at the time: “These asylum seekers aren’t just travelling through one safe country, they’re very often travelling through many safe countries – essentially having a shopping trolley as to what they want, economic migration.”

Some months later, addressing Westminster Hall as a Labour MP, Wakeford said: “I want to go on record and say what I said 18 months ago was wrong and I am sorry for saying it.

“Every week, the government uses scapegoats and as we continue to see even yesterday, asylum seekers have been one for this government for far too long. I am sorry for playing into that narrative. These people aren’t arbitrary numbers for newspaper editors to froth at the mouth about and stoke the fire of intolerance.

“They are human beings who have hopes and dreams, for them and their children, they want a good education, to live life without fear of persecution.”

***

Wakeford was the first of a series of floor-crossings during the 2019-2024 parliament.

In April 2024, Dan Poulter defected from the Conservatives to Labour. Poulter, who worked part time as a doctor, argued that his former party was no longer focused on public services.

Mere days later in May 2024, Natalie Elphicke defected from the Conservatives to Labour. She cited “housing and the safety and security of our borders” in a statement.

These defections came shortly before Rishi Sunak, the then prime minister, decided to call a general election.

In March 2024, Lee Anderson joined Reform UK after losing the Tory whip.

Some months earlier in October 2023, Lisa Cameron defected from the Scottish National Party (SNP) to the Conservatives. Cameron spoke of a “toxic” culture in the SNP’s Westminster group.

Kenny MacAskill and Neale Hanvey both left the SNP in March 2021 to join Alba, the pro-independence party founded by former first minister Alex Salmond.

In May 2023, having lost the Conservative whip, Andrew Bridgen joined the Reclaim Party.

Wakeford went on to serve as an opposition whip during the 2019-2024 parliament.

https://x.com/christian4burys/status/1587065934170177538

At the 2024 general election, Wakeford won 19,247 votes (45.6%) in Bury South – a majority of 9,361 over the Conservative candidate. He was subsequently appointed as a government whip.