Health secretary urges Bury South by-election

Health Secretary Sajid Javid has this morning urged a by-election in Bury South, whose Conservative MP Christian Wakeford yesterday said he had defected to the Labour party.

While Mr Javid explained that he was “sad to see Christian [Wakeford] go”, he said the move was a “decision for him” and pressed the newly minted Labour MP to call a by-election in his Greater Manchester seat.

“I feel sorry for the people of Bury South – they voted Conservative,” the Health Secretary told the BBC earlier today. round. “I think a by-election would be very welcome. I’d be very happy with a by-election, I think Christian would be happy with a by-election,” he went on.

Yesterday afternoon’s Prime Minister’s Questions began with jeering and booing as Boris Johnson faced MPs just minutes after Mr Wakeford announced his defection.

Since his election in 2019, Mr Wakeford has co-sponsored and voted in favour of a private members’ bill that planned to “enable the recall of Members of the House of Commons who voluntarily change their political party affiliation.” However, the MP’s letter explaining his switch due to the importance he places in “highest standards of integrity” in politics, has not said he will call a by-election.