A “Red Wall” Conservative MP has crossed the House and defected to the Labour party.

Christian Wakeford joined Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer during Prime Minister’s Questions in Parliament.

Mr Wakeford had sent a resignation letter to the PM Boris Johnson 24 hours earlier.

The MP for Bury South was cheered by Labour as he took his seat behind Sir Keir.

In his letter to the PM, Mr Wakeford said that he had now “reached the conclusion that the best interests of my constituents are served by the programme put forward by Keir Starmer and his party”.

He added:

“Britain needs a government focused on tackling the cost of living crisis and providing a path out of the pandemic that protects living standards and defends the security of all,” Mr Wakeford added.

“It needs 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.

“My decision is about much more than your leadership and the disgraceful way you [Boris Johnson] 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.”