Bury MP defects to Labour highlighting Starmer’s ‘integrity’ in antisemitism fight

Bury South MP Christian Wakeford has sensationally defected from the Conservative to Labour Party – highlighting Sir Keir Starmer’s “integrity” in “the vital challenge of combating antisemitism” in a letter to the Prime Minister.

Wakeford’s decision to join Labour emerged only minutes before under pressure Boris Johnson faced Starmer in stormy Prime Minister’s Questions in the House of Commons.

Elected in 2019 in the Red Wall seat, Wakeford had previously been seen as one of the leading young political stars who typified the PM’s ability to win over former Labour voters.

But in his letter to the PM confirming his defection to Labour Wakeford said Tory policies had “done nothing to help the people of my constituency and indeed are only making the struggles they face on a daily basis worse.”

But Wakeford was also quick to praise Starmer’s work on combating antisemtism within his party.

As co-chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Jews, the MP has been outspoken in his condemnation of antisemitism.

Earlier this month he led a backbench debate in the Commons in which he openly condemned Professor David Miller and the antisemitism scandal at Bristol University.

On Tuesday, Wakeford also issued a firm statement after Covid conspiracy stickers featuring Nazi swastikas were plastered around Bury.

Wakeford had previously been a solid Conservative Friends Of Israel supporter – but he is now expected to become involved with Labour Friends of Israel instead.

In his letter to the PM, Wakeford said he had “wrestled with my conscience for months” before joining Labour.

But he added: “Under Keir Starmer the Labour Party is back firmly in the centre of British politics, in touch with working people.”

He added the Labour leader had “shown that integrity in the way he has led his party on issues thart matter to me, not least the vital challenge of combating antisemitism.”

At PMQs, Starmer welcomed Wakeford into his party telling MPs his party had “changed.”

Johnson said the Tories would win the seat back at the next election. Starmer said Bury South was a Labour seat now.