By Ben Kerrigan-
Former Conservative MP Mark Logan(pictured) has announced his defection to the Labour Party, delivering a significant blow to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s leadership. Logan, who represented Bolton North East until the dissolution of parliament, cited the Conservative Party’s transformation over the past decade as his primary reason for switching allegiance.
Logan, a vocal Brexit supporter who narrowly secured his seat in 2019 with a majority of just 378 votes, expressed his disillusionment with the current state of the Tory party. “The Tory party is now unrecognisable from the one I joined a decade ago,” Logan stated. He emphasized that Labour has the potential to “bring back optimism into British life,” drawing parallels between the upcoming election and Labour’s historic 1997 victory under Tony Blair.
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Logan’s departure is the latest in a series of setbacks for Sunak, who is already grappling with the fallout from the Partygate scandal. Sunak faced intense scrutiny during a campaign visit to Niftylift, a cherrypicker manufacturer near Milton Keynes, where he was confronted by Nick Fox, an environment, health, and safety officer who lost his mother to COVID-19 in 2020. Fox questioned Sunak’s integrity, asking, “How can anyone trust you or the party after things like this?”
Sunak, who was fined by police in 2022 for attending Boris Johnson’s birthday celebration during lockdown, offered an apology. “I’m really sorry that you lost your mum and particularly in those circumstances,” he said. “And I’m sorry for what was going on in Downing Street. For my part, I apologise that I showed up to a meeting earlier.” Despite this, Fox remained unconvinced, criticizing the government’s handling of the pandemic and the allocation of contracts during that period.
Logan’s defection is seen as a symbolic yet impactful move, joining the ranks of other Conservative MPs such as Natalie Elphicke and Dan Poulter who crossed the floor earlier this year, and Christian Wakeford who defected in 2022. Additionally, Lucy Allan, the outgoing Tory MP for Telford, recently declared her support for the Reform Party.
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Labour leader Keir Starmer welcomed Logan’s defection, viewing it as a testament to the growing discontent within Conservative ranks and a signal of shifting political tides. Logan’s comparison of the current political climate to the optimistic surge of 1997 resonates with many who are disillusioned with the status quo and yearning for change.
The defection underscores the challenges faced by Sunak as he seeks to maintain party unity and voter confidence amidst ongoing controversies and a rejuvenated Labour opposition. As the election campaign intensifies, the Conservative Party’s ability to address internal divisions and restore public trust will be crucial in determining its electoral prospects.
With the 2024 general election approaching, Logan’s move serves as a potent reminder of the volatile political landscape and the potential for significant shifts in voter sentiment. The comparison to Labour’s landslide victory in 1997 suggests that the upcoming election could indeed be a transformative moment in British politics.
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