ex-Tory Minister defects to New Labour

[McKenzie]

bigtime damage for Howard. But it's difficult to feel pleased about the defection. It's possibly a sign that New Labour has shifted sufficiently to the right to attract a former Tory Cabinet Minister.

http://www.sundayherald.com/47155

<snip>

Former Conservative minister Robert Jackson last night announced he was defecting to the Labour Party.
Jackson, the MP for Wantage, Oxfordshire, said Tony Blair, not Michael Howard, should be Prime Minister for the good of the country.

Victory for the Tories at the forthcoming election would mean “certain harm”, he said.

And according to Jackson, the Tories have “dangerous” views on Europe, “incoherent” policies on public services and had “wobbled” on Iraq.

<snip>

[UL_Approved]

1. The public acknowledgment of such things is important

At least in the U.K., more opposition to the radical extremist movement is shown. Time will tell if this is a real move, or just an excuse to spread the madness.

[Mr Creosote]

2. It would be interesting to check

this chap's voting record. Presumably, as a man of honour he has been supporting Labour and this move is merely confirmation of that. If he has been voting against them, then it would seem he is a shallow opportunist who sees some personal gain in this.

[Taxloss]

3. He's a "man of honour".The Tories weren't surprised by his move.

[T_i_B]

5. Here it is

his voting record

http://www.publicwhip.org.uk/mp.php?firstname=Robert&lastname=Jackson&constituency=Wantage

[Englander]

4. Where has this guy been for the last 3 years?

Did he miss the whole Iraq/WMD misleading of Parliament & country thing?

It's like someone popping up in 1974 & supporting Nixon,or pinning their colours to Maggie's mast,in 1990.



http://www.guardian.co.uk/cartoons/martinrowson/0,7371,1392176,00.html

[Briar]

6. He supports the war

Presumably misleading Parliament is okay by him in an "end justifies the means" way. As a Tory, he'd have no difficulties with any of Blair's ways and means.

[non sociopath skin]

7. The funniest bit is the right-wing websites ...

... who are falling over themselves to explain what a plonker this guy is and how they're soooo lucky to be rid of him.

The Skin