LibDem PPC defects to Labour (but just make sure you get his age right)

There is a, frankly, hilarious debate going on at LDV at the moment (see here) regarding the news that a 2010 PPC (somebody who failed to become an MP but who was a flag bearer for the party) has quit to join Labour. He did this because of the way he feels about the coalition.

However the LibDems have fought back - taking the Independent newspaper, who carried the story, to task for ... erm, getting his age wrong. Talk about missing the point; this kind of diversionary tactic may work in LibDem Blog World but they'd do better talking about the politics and the motives of the defection rather than the minute details of the newspaper story.

Anyhow, as regular readers will know I am not a big fan of defections; I think anyone who jumps straight from party-to-other-party will find it difficult in their new home and impossible to settle back in their old one. And usually there is some back story to them. Individual defections tend to be meaningless, and as I never tire of saying - you need to look at the pattern and flow of defections. If this was one of a string of PPCs, councillors, activists etc defecting then you have a problem ...

LibDem Candidate: Why I Quit The Party

The author of this letter is a LibDem PPC who has quit and joined the Conservatives. It is a remarkable and frank letter – and a devastating review of the leadership of Nick Clegg. The LibDems on Norwich City Council are a weak opposition and LibDems in parliament, a few issues aside, are largely irrelevant. It is worth reading in full.

Dear Nick,

I writing to you to formally let you know that I no longer wish to be a member of the Liberal Democrats and as a result withdraw as Liberal Democrat Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Chelsea and Fulham.

I joined the Liberal Democrats when I was 18 years old as a student in my first week of University at the freshers' fair and since then have been actively involved within the party. I was President of the Keele University Lib Dems, have been on various committees including LDYS [Liberal Democrat Youth and Students], WLD [Women Liberal Democrats] and EMLD [Ethnic Minority Liberal Democrats], worked as a Parliamentary researcher/assistant including for Paddy Ashdown when he was leader, been in party political broadcasts, and I have also been a PPC in Brent and Battersea.

When I heard you speak at the Operation Black Vote event in the House of Commons a few weeks ago I realised that you as leader and the Liberal Democrats are the not the party I had once believed in and is so very out of touch with everyday life and people in our country. It saddens me to say but that day I lost all faith in you and the party and I can no longer continue to be a part of the Liberal Democrat party of today.

The political party that I want to be a part of would be representative of the people and views of all members of British society and be a modern party both in outlook and its vision in implementing policy. I want a leader who will be dynamic and encourage those people who are feeling disenfranchised to think about politics, participate and join in the debate.

The Liberal Democrats does not do or have any of the above and I am therefore choosing to join the Conservative party which I believe has all these qualities and much more to offer our country today and for the future

Norsheen Bhatti

Can we measure anything by defections?

I have always had a pretty neutral stance on defections; I neither join the clamour for by-elections nor get hot under the collar about who is going where. However, I note that the London Borough of Hillingdon has seen two pretty high profile defections to the ruling Conservative group in recent weeks. Firstly LibDem Roy Chamdal switched to the Conservatives and now Heathrow's Labour Councillor Santokh Dhillon has joined too. This adds to the heafty Tory majority in Hillingdon and also says something about the way the opposition are working.

Interesting to note the way that the party losing the member reacts; Labour in Hillingdon said it was because Cllr Dhillon spent a lot of time in India and was useless, whilst the LibDems said Chamdal wasn't doing any work for them anyway. Do we really need this? Can't you say that they are good people but you respect their decision - the same right any voter has - to switch parties. Is character assassination really necessary? Won't the public be rightly suspicious to find, for example, the LibDem leader advocating their candidate in a by-election one week and stabbing him in the back the day he quits?

Although the wonderous Parliamentary defection hasn't happened yet, these add to a stream of local government / activist defections. People are saying that you can tell a party on the rise because of the stream of defectors. But how far do the defectors recognise a party on the rise? Which came first - the party strength or the defectors?

Maybe all this tells us is what the polls already show - a very likely Tory majority at the next election?

Councillors do the funniest things

One LibDem Councillor quit the party so that his ward colleageu could hold a committee place that would otherwise have been impacted by a shift in the political balance of the council. Read more here. I cannot imagine for a moment how you would justify that to your local electorate, that you are massaging the political system to achieve your own ends but you have to admit it is a really brave thing to do ... as said on the blog, there is no more a noble thing to do than to lay down your political life for your ward colleague.

Meanwhile, two more LibDems have quit for better reasons - joining the Conservatives here. And this defecting LibDem delivers overall control of the council to the Conservatives here.

Another day, another Lib Dem defection...

Yesterday the LibDem Group Leader on Sedgemoor Councillor quit and joined the Tories; a pretty impressive move for a group leader in many ways. Apparently he wasn't happy with the way that the LibDems were moving nationally.

Then Richmond Councillor Marc Cranfield Adams announced he was defecting to the Tories during a full council meeting (what a show off!). And now we hear that Cllr Janet Hedges, of Epping Forest, is Cameron's newest recruit.

Does all this matter? I used to think not, but a friend of mine pointed out that Thatcher's political base in 76-79 was built upon defections because people move towards the winners. The Sun is now backing Boris (the first Conservative endorsement since before 1997) and now the Telegraph is openly talking about the first parliamentary defection to the Conservatives (we've had a couple of MEPs but no MPs as yet).

Picking off LibDems, who are let's face it, struggling to say the least, is the easy bit - can Cameron start to lure Labour?

Former LibDem Candidate defects to the Conservatives

The most interesting thing in the decision of one Cllr Sloan, a LibDem Councillor and former parliamentary candidate, to defect to the Conservatives is where he is from.

When a Manchester LibDem Councillor moved over to the Tories recently I said that it made the news because it suggested that Cameron was making moves in our big cities.

Cllr Sloan is from Hull; hardly a Tory stronghold and shows that people across the country are looking again at the Conservatives. I'm glad the people of Hull have a new Conservative representative and I hope Cllr Sloan does them proud and works hard.

Another Con Gain

So despite claiming he quit, it now turns out that Castle Point MP Bob Spink was sacked by the Tory Chief Whip tonight for trying to blackmail the party into saving him from a de-selection vote. Although we are sad that he has done this, it does open another winnable seat up and will join Grantham, Croydon Central and Bexley as definite "Con Gain" seats at the next election.

David Cameron has spoken about wanting a parliamentary party that reflects the country; I wonder if I could, tonuge-in-cheek, suggest that some sitting MPs are doing all they can to give him the chance by vacating their safe seats in new and interesting ways!

Birmingham Labour Councillor defects to the Conservatives

Former Deputy Leader of the Labour Party in Solihull has quit to join David Cameron's Conservatives. Click here for the local report. This follows on from the decision of a Manchester LibDem Councillor to resign from his party and join the Conservatives.

When asked what he thought of Labour, Councillor Ryan replied: "It's finished."

Interesting too is that this Solihull Councillor represents an area in urban Birmingham. When the media talk about the Tory position in Cities and the North, what they often forget is that whilst we may not represent many inner city wards, we do represent vast swathes of these cities and the areas around them. A lot more to do, I grant you, but not as bad as we are often told.

New Year, New Defection

It is clearly great news that a Liberal Democrat Councillor in Manchester has resigned days after Nick Clegg becomes leader and defects to the Conservatives. David Cameron's appearance to welcome him into the party shows how seriously we are taking both such northern cities and also poaching of LibDems.

Nick Clegg must have been fuming into his cornflakes this morning. Quite frankly he could have done with a defection at the start of his leadership (he may well still have one tucked away somewhere, but that card should have been played by now) but to lose a Councillor from Manchester like this is very embarrasing to him.

Cameron starts the year well (the NHS speech was very good too) and has laid down a marker that he is not willing to ceed ground to Clegg at all.

Regular readers will know I am generally sceptical about defectors, but this one says a lot about Cameron, Clegg and the political battle ahead.

Defectors are as welcome as always!

The news that a LibDem MEP for the North-West of England, and also a Labour Suffolk County Councillor, have both today defected to David Cameron's Conservatives should be very welcome for the party. It gives Cameron a real roll, as the government decend into choas and the polls shift in the Tory favour it demonstrates that Cam has the big mo'.

However, regular readers will note my general dislike of defectors. I just don't think you can trust people who one day are slagging off a certain party and campaigning to oust them from politics and are happily handing over their membership cheque the next. Sometimes they look desperate (like former Tory MP Quentin Davies) and sometimes they look careerist (such as the now Northern Ireland Secretary Shaun Woodward, who was once Tory MP for Witney). The first defection I can really remember was Emma Nicholson, a Devon MP who quit the Tories for the LibDems. I went on to read her auto-biography and was totally unconvinced. She's certainly gone further under the LibDems (now a Baroness) than she would have under the Tories (she may just have risen back to rank of Branch Treasurer by now).

So whilst I say welcome to these two gentleman, I think both have a lot to prove ... a lot of leaflets that need delivering and a lot of doors need knocking on. But, for now, let's just enjoy the moment!

Is a City Councillor about to jump ship?

I like to think of myself as being pretty up-to-date with all the events and gossip in City Hall but I was almost shocked to be asked what I knew about rumours of a defection in Norwich.

I have to admit I know nothing, although I know Councillors in all three other groups who are upset with their leadership either locally or nationally. I didn't know it had come to this though!

I cannot remember the last time any City Councillor switched, but any news would be welcomed!

The Times: Two more Labour defections to the Conservatives in Ealing

According to The Times, a further two Labour councillors have quit to join Tony Lit's campaign. Tom Watson must be spitting blood tonight and the LibDems will be holding their heads in their hands. Cameron and Shapps are doing a great job and whatever the result, there is no doubt that Lit has the best campaign.

UPDATE: I am grateful to Andrea, as always, who points out that they are Southall residents but former Councillors. The Times doesn't make that at all clear. Either way, a good catch and will keep the big mo' with Lit.

Political Tennis

There seems to be real churn at the moment in politics with an MP, several councillors, association officers and activists flying all over the shop. But the most bizarre is that of the sixth Labour Councillor in Ealing Southall - a real ding-dong battle worthy of Wimbledon. Here are the highlights!

A lovely serve by Iain Dale, who announces that a sixth Labour councillor has quit to join the Tories. This, linked with the double Colchester LibDem defection could be match point for Cameron.

Labour campaign manager Tom Watson does a perfect return saying that she hasn't quit and is ready to take legal action against Dale whom she claims has slurred her. It looks like a spritied fightback...

Then a fantastic backhand return by Iain Dale, saying he has evidence that she was ready to defect and CCHQ claim she has been bullied by Labour into staying put.

I'm glued to my lap-top over how this game ends! 30-15 to Mr Dale so far ... I await the return play by Mr Watson.

Two LibDem Councillors defect to the Conservatives

The Conservatives have won overall control of Colchester Borough Council following the defection of two councillors from the LibDems (via a fortnight as Independents). This will come as a blow to local LibDem MP Bob Russell who is doing a good job annoying local people and dividing his party.

Like opinion polls, individual defections mean nothing. It's the trend that counts.

5 (yes, FIVE) Labour Councillors defect to the Conservatives in Ealing Southall

The story of five Councillors defecting on a local authority would make the news both locally and nationally - it would swing control of a large number of councils too - but these defections have a great deal of importance because they happened in a parliamentary seat where Labour are trying to fight off a strong Tory challenge. As I've said before, defections are pretty nasty things which tend to dominate for a few days before leaving the defector(s) largely as lame ducks and the people not properly represented. However when a group of councillors do it then you have to ask questions about the dynamics of that political group or the council.

Well done to Tory elections boss Grant Shapps MP for this one and it will give Tony Lit a real boost - but it says more about Ealing Labour. Sir Ming will be seething I'm sure!

Tory defector failed to be selected as Ealing Candidate

The LibDems are doing much crowing about the so-called defection of the Deputy Chairman of Ealing Southall Conservatives over the selection of local buisnessman Tony Lit. I had no problem with this and I thought the LibDems had done well with this coup, until I discovered here that Mr Gupta has himself applied to be the candidate and failed.

Such obvious sour grapes at his own failure is rather sad and pathetic and the party will be better off once these prima-donna's all depart. Are you in this for your community, your constituents, your party or yourself?

I actually feel rather sorry for Mr Gupta, who clearly became an Association Officer in order to become the next candidate, because all of that time and effort was wasted. By jumping ship he'll find himself as yet another failed LibDem council candidate. Shame.

It is worth reminding ourselves that the Tories outpolled the LibDems massivly at the last election and they only have one very lonely councillor on the Borough Council, compared to the majority Conservative controlled council! A rat joining a sinking ship?

Another defector does well

Following his 24 hour burst of publicity, poor old deluded Quentin Davies looks like he is falling into obscurity already, however another recent defector seems to be doing rather much better. After the news that Tory turncoat Shaun Woodward has now been made Northern Ireland Secretary after being parachuted into a safe Labour seat, it seems that Labour switcher Rehman Christi has been chosen for the notionally Tory seat of Gillingham and now must be odds-on to join the Conservative benches after the next election. It seems a little 50:50 if defectors go on to do well at the moment. I wonder if any other Tory, Labour or LibDem MPs fancy their chances?

It always makes me think about Paul Marsden who quit Labour for the LibDems and then changed back a few years later.

Davies defection is a blow to Cameron, but it says more about Labour's newest MP than it does about the Tory Leader

You have to hand it to Labour they always manage to pull it off - and the stream of Tory defectors (9 in 10 years) continues to swell their ranks and boost their PR. However they always manage to do this because of the line of Tory dimwits willing to aid Blair and Labour in their quest to bugger up Britain.

Quentin Davies is the latest MP to do this and the defection will give Brown a much needed boost on the day that he becomes Prime Minister. It is certainly bad news for the Cameron Big Tent and it does raise the issue of how many other MPs are so-discontented with his leadership. But...

I believe this whoe sorry affair says more about the judgement and character of Quentin Davies than it does about the Cameron leadership. Davies is one of the few people in politics that doesn't see how Brown will chew him up and spit him out - being used by a party that he has fought against for 20 years and a politican he referred to as "losing control", "imprudent" whom he hoped "something nasty" would happen to. Now Davies suddenly changes his mind. Do we really want this man on our benches specifically or even as a British member of parliament generally?

And this is before we come to his voting record. Quite frankly I hadn't realised what a throw-back he was before looking into this in detail. He voted against gay rights, against the fox hunting ban, against anti-terrorism law and for the war on Iraq. If that is the person that the Labour Party want on their side then they are welcome to him. How Labour can accept Davies or how Davies can accept Labour is beyond me.

The truth is that this defection isn't about policy, or leadership or even principle. It is about one rather tragic figure who will now find himself isolated on both side of the House of Commons. Judging by the mauling Davies got on Newsnight he has got some rough days ahead of him. I won't shed any tears and look forward to the phrase "Con gain Grantham & Stamford" at the next election ... because he won't have the guts to fight a by-election.

I will leave this post with a true story. I spoke to a fellow Tory Councillor on the phone this afternoon. He said: "I was thinking about defecting to Labour until I heard they'd accepted Quentin Davies. Now I don't think I'll bother - I don't want to be associated with people like him." Well said, Councillor!

UPDATE: It should be pointed out that Mr Davies was a shadow cabinet member under IDS and now feels at home with Mr Brown. Who should be worried more by this - Iain or Gordon?

Judge somebody by their friends

The Conservatives have been looking for a big name defection since Cameron became party leader. So far, certain LibDems have resisted the lure and even the Prince of Darkness Peter Mandelson has been touted (but refused by most sane Tory members).

I am pleased that tomorrow the defection will come in the shape of former Ulster Unionist Leader and peer (Lord) David Trimble. Trimble is the one of the most measured and intelligent politicians of his generation - a nobel prize winner and a man of principle. He is welcome into our party with open arms.

This defection may not surprise those who know Trimble closest nor will it send out that many shockwaves, but I alsways think you know somebody by who their friends are.

And if Cameron is bringing people like David Trimble into the party then that is very good news for us indeed.

People the Greens are welcome to (but should treat with caution) - No. 112

Following the news that political dynamo Dawn Castle-Green has jumped ship from the LibDems to the Greens, it turns out another former Councillor has also done the dirty on the yellow party.

Simon Richardson was the Mousehold Councillor from 2000-2004 and made virtually no impact at all. He is most famous for standing in Bowthorpe in 2006 and having the cheek to put out a leaflet claiming that the Tories were out of the race and that only the LibDems could beat Labour (fact check, Con Gain). Even at the count, the poor deluded Mr Richardson still believed he may yet pull off victory. Only when the returning officer showed us the result did his conceed. Amazing.

I am sure SImon worked hard for the people of Mousehold during his tenure, but the Greens has better watch out because methinks his political radar may need some fine tuning!