Labour PPC joins the Conservative Party

The former Labour parliamentary candidate for Horsham, Rehman Chishti, has defected to the Conservatives. He stood against Francis Maude at the last election with a 3.1% swing against him. Francis said that:

“Rehman is an extremely able and respected politician, as I found out at first hand when he stood against me. I am delighted that someone with his energy and talent has joined the Conservative Party. I have appointed him as my adviser on diversity and ethnic minorities.”

In 2003 he was elected as a Labour Councillor in Medway Council, at the age of 24 years. Rehman was born in Pakistan and studied law in Aberystwyth where he was active in student politics. He was called to the bar in 2001 and has worked for some politicians, including Benazir Bhutto the former PM of Pakistan, and Helen Clark. In announcing his decision he said:

“I’m delighted to have joined the Conservative Party. Under David Cameron, the Conservatives provide hope and inspiration to the public at large who have become disillusioned with New Labour. Tony Blair’s Labour Party increasingly takes voters for granted and is out of touch with modern Britain.”

A Labour defection was rumoured over the weekend, and several people on this site registered their objection to whoever it was being parachuted into a safe seat. If he is treated well however, others may consider making the jump. This is excellent news for Cameron two days before his one hundredth day as leader, but there is more to do before we get MPs crossing the floor

Deputy Editor

Comments

[James Hellyer]

As Labour have provided us with a new member, in the interests of fairness we should give them Francis Maude.

[Sean Fear]

LOL, James!

[Frank Young]

I'm hugely sceptical about this. Especially as Maude has given him a position.

[Matt Simpson]

I can't help but feel that the welcome and appointment would not have been quite as good had Chishti not stood in Maude's seat

[malcolm]

I'm trying not to be cynical....and failing.Do we really need a diversity adviser? If we do couldn't it have have been a 'proper' Conservative and not a recent defector.

[James Maskell]

I think we need to see him denounce the Labour Party with a statement before he can really be accepted in the Conservatives.

[david mayes]

not exactly the warmest of welcomes. Won't exactly encourage other defectors!

[James Maskell]

Where has this defection been reported? Is this an exclusive...the BBC, the Guardian, even the Conservative Party website doesnt appear to be reporting this!

[Cllr Iain Lindley]

not exactly the warmest of welcomes

Well as we all know the comments section of ConservativeHome is the epitome of hope, aspiration and positivity...

[Sam Coates]

Where has this defection been reported?
I saw a press release - I'm not sure why it hasn't been reported elsewhere!

[Matt Simpson]

It's here
http://www.conservatives.com/tile.do?def=news.press.release.page&obj_id=128517

[James Maskell]

Something seems wierd about this. Its the evening now, why come out with it now? Why not plan it for tomorrow morning before PMQs?

[James Maskell]

Thanks for putting the link up.

[Sam Coates]

As far as I can see, nowhere else has reported it at all. I was quick off the mark, but you'd think that someone would have cottoned on an hour after I had posted it!

[Andrea]

He has worked for Helen Clark, former MP for Peterborough.
Those who are familiar with her, know it's not a good point to put on a CV!

[malcolm]

Iain,if someone wants to defect from another party after seeing the error of their ways, that's great, I am very happy to welcome them.I'm less happy to see this happen when they have a guarantee of a job to come to however,that is why I feel very cynical about this.Perhaps I'm wrong.

[Ted]

could it be trying to get some good news out before the poor showing in ICM tomorow?

[Cllr Iain Lindley]

Ted, do you have news about the poll?

malcolm, that's a fair point, but I'm afraid I can't help thinking there's an awful lot of crying "wolf" amongst certain commentators on here...

[Cllr Iain Lindley]

Never mind, the poll news is on PoliticalBetting.

[Rob Largan]

The poll news it not good for Cameron at all. With all the current sleaze dogging the government there shouldnt be a Labour boost in the polls. Its difficult to draw much from opinion polls, but you would expect us to be doing much better.

[Cllr Iain Lindley]

It's one poll. A second similar one would be bad news, I wonder when the next one will be...

[Richard]

Quite a steep fall which suggests it's a freak poll. Or Cameron's honeymoon has come to and end in the same way that Howard's did (yes, even Howard led in the polls once).

I think part of the problem for Cameron has been that that the media has been going on about how wonderful he is while the public remains somewhat more sceptical. Plus we are still awaiting policy proposals.

[Donal Blaney]

Would a white or Jewish candidate who had not stood against Francis Maude have been given an advisory position at CCHQ, I wonder?

[Derek]

One PPC doesn't make a big difference. A sitting MP would make more of a story.

[johnC]

I would be interested to see a detailed analysis of the poll figures divided by gender. My hunch is that Cameron is gaining more women than men. Not surprising when he has been strongly focussing on issues such as equal opportunities and teachers' pay in the inner cities. He needs to balance this with some macho stuff on tax and defence.

[R UK]

Polls are rubbish. That's why they come out showing government gains when the government's in another hole. It's all part of the manipulation, taking off the pressure. Money buys anything in the media business, of which polls are a murky subdivision.

[Elena]

Oh no! That poll is intensely depressing.

Still, we've got to wait for the others. If they all register a drop, however, we've got a SERIOUS problem.

The thought of a Labour fourth term, irrational as it may be based on one poll, fills me with absolute dread.

[malcolm]

I have to admit I'm very suprised.Not because of anything we've done but to find Labour going up after the few weeks they've had is very weird.They are failing everywhere including their 'heartland' policies of Education and the NHS.But the major issue must be sleaze where their murky dealings must surely make this administration the most corrupt in modern times.We should be kicking their heads in over this but we are not,why?

[Chad]

"We should be kicking their heads in over this but we are not,why?"

You know why Malcolm. All three parties have their snouts in this quasi-loan trough.

We have the most corrupt government, swimming in sleaze, but it is worse than that, they are free to pretty much get away with it becuase the opposition parties are impotent to act through being guilty of the same actions.

[Nadim]

I have to be careful, in case I am accused of being mean-spirited, but the immediate appointment of a defecting Labour Muslim to such a high-profile position at CCHQ has to be greeted with cynicism. There are very many committed Conservative Muslims, with excellent degrees and life experience in all kinds of relevant things, who could advise Francis Maude a whole lot more effectively.

Also, the Chairman does not need a diversity advisor, not least because the party already has a Diversity Council to advise on such matters. This is made up of minority ethnics of varying faiths. Why does Maude need his own private advisor? Or has Chisti been immediately appointed to this body?

Don't worry about flying him onto the A-list. The party's rules prevent any notion of this. I think I'm right in saying that no-one who has stood against the party may stand for the party at the following election. I think they have to miss one.

I would be more than interested to read Chisti's election address, and any disparaging comments he made about the party or Maude!

[Sam Coates]

Polls are rubbish. That's why they come out showing government gains when the government's in another hole.
Do you have any evidence for that, R UK?

[Sam Coates]

Nadim, you often criticised GoldList candidates for not being Muslims or some other minority - now that we have one (I'm assuming that he is a Muslim) with the added bonus of being a defector, you don't find him acceptable either?

Good point on the Diversity Council though.

I think I'm right in saying that no-one who has stood against the party may stand for the party at the following election. I think they have to miss one.
I have never heard of that, and I don't see why they would deter defectors in such a way.

[Nadim]

"I'm assuming that he is a Muslim"

That's a good point. The name sounds more Hindu.

And it's not defectors I find unacceptable. Sinners who finally submit to the truth are always welcome. What I object to is any mechanism that supplants meritocracy - A-lists, nepotism, or appointing people as 'private advisors' simply because of their race or faith.

[Nadim]

"I have never heard of that, and I don't see why they would deter defectors in such a way."

I'm a bit surprised you dismiss my contribution just because you've never heard of it. I'm sure this is the case (though I doubt I'll get an apology). It's not a matter of deterring defectors; it's a question of party discipline to deter 'independent conservatives' from expecting to walk straight back into the fold.

[Sam Coates]

I'm not questioning your integrity, just the policy rule. I'm sure a few MPs have continued to sit in their constituency after changing party, and then been parachuted into safer seats at the next election - although no examples spring to my tired mind!

[Nadim]

I can now correct myself, which I am not too proud to do. My brother pointed out that Rehman is derived from from Rahman, a name of Allah (meaning the Most Merciful). And Chisti has a long Islamic heritage. So there - I thought it strange that a Hindu would broadcast an origin in Pakistan.

I'm pleased he has found a better political way to serve Islam, but my other comments stand. I don't see why someone from an ethnic minority is necesarily better placed to 'advise' on such matters than someone who is not. Do you have to be gay to advise on gay matters? Or married to advise on marriage matters? What happened to empathy, compassion and the shared understanding of our common humanity?

[Editor]

What a depressing thread of comments.

I think Rehman Chishti should be welcomed to the Tory Party and Francis Maude should be congratulated for wooing him into the blue corner.

[James Maskell]

Im afraid Maude has a long way to go before he is redeemed in my eyes for what he has done and what he is currently doing.

Its been less than a year since the election...do former candidates' minds really change that quickly?

[Recess Monkey]

c'mon Tim, surely I deserve a link for scooping you without the benefit of an inside leak.

Tell you what - why don't we swap you Hoey for Bottomley?

And if I come over to the dark side, can I have Folkestone & Hythe? I hear it will be vacant in the forseeable future.

Recess Monkey

[James Hellyer]

It's quite telling that Chishti's statement says nothing about what the Conservatives stand for, and simply concentrates on Blair et al. being out of touch.

[Editor]

You are quite right to complain about the lack of a link, Recess. I'll make amends soon!

Hoey for Bottomley sounds like a very good swap.

Who would you like for Frank Field?

[James Hellyer]

He can have Portillo, Maude and May.

And Bercow.

[Recess Monkey]

I rather like Frank Field, but you can have Frank Cook for nothing. How about Andrew Dismore for John Horam - or have we had him already?

I can think of one or two comrade who might like a piece of Zac Goldsmith.

Recess Monkey

[Frank Young]

Sorry Editor i still can't help feel cynical about this. A young politico who has worked in politics moves to our party and is immediately given a post by our Chairman whose seat he stood in at the last election.

Its all too easy to see a young man on the make. I hope I’m wrong.

[Andy Stidwill]

Polls like this depressing one make me believe the prospect of Ming Campbell as foreign secretary in 2009 under Brown's leadership is going to be very difficult to stop. Cameron must do better, starting now.

[Frank Young]

Recess Monkey it's not very nice to put this poor chaps mobile number on your blog however you might feel about him!

[Frank Young]

It only goes to prove how much work we have to do. It will take years of reform. It's unrealistic to expect to start winning immediately

[Editor]

Frank Young: "Sorry Editor i still can't help feel cynical about this. A young politico who has worked in politics moves to our party and is immediately given a post by our Chairman whose seat he stood in at the last election."

I agree with you Frank about the hasty appointment. Too much, too fast but he deserves a welcome to the party. If he read this thread it would hardly be an encouragement!

[Recess Monkey]

The mobile number was the result of a three second google search - very much in the public domain - and I though you guys might want to send him welcoming and supportive text messages - not to mention have some input into diversity policy

Recess Monkey

[Frank Young]

Absolubtely Ed he deserves a warm welcome and I hope he finds his political home in our party.

[Andy Stidwill]

Personally, I think that to accept someone into the party who can so easily leave a political organisation for which they actually stood for the Westminster parliament (not just some parish council or other minor office), barely 10 months after the election, is a bit of a suspect decision on Francis Maude's part.

[sussex tory]

Rehman Chishti seems like an excellent candidate. Can we swap him for Francis Maude in Horsham?

[Andrew Kennedy]

Let's examine his record....

(i) a Barrister
(ii) Spent the last 10 years attacking Conservative policies
(iii) Achieved a poor result in May 2005.

Yes.... another great candidate for the Gold List.

[Frank Young]

It would be interesting to know what has happened here. What private conversations have been had? It's all to suspect and Andy I agree entirely.

However in the interest of balance I will say if ever i'm required to canvass on his behalf I will gladly do so.

[Annabel Herriott]

I have already had my wrists slapped for my considered opinion on polls, so I shall keep it buttoned!

[James Hellyer]

He's never been shown up in a debate by Keith Vaz.

That puts him some way ahead of Francis Maude in the credibility stakes.

[Donal Blaney]

I welcome any convert Tim: but I too am cynical of someone who sees the way the wind is blowing, undergoes a miraculous conversion and then is rewarded for his anti-conservatism by getting a prime job at CCHQ. And I find tokenism sickening. If that makes my post depressing, so be it..!

[Frank Young]

Very cynical Andrew.

i) A British Muslim

ii) A young AB professional

iii) committed to the new style Conservative party under David Cameron.

Sounds like just the person the party should be trying to attract.

[Andrew Kennedy]

If anyone is interested, here is a link to a piece of election literature / newsletter he published in Horsham:

http://www.horsham-labour.org.uk/news/Members_Newsletter_-_July_2004.pdf

[Frank Young]

Knowing how some of you guys think if you want to be badly wound up go on to the party website and follow the front page link to the "built to last" pages and watch the video message from Francis Maude. I personally love it and agree with every word. I suspect, however, I might be in a minority!!

[Frank Young]

A thought has just occurred to me, this chap being 27 would probably have joined the labour party at say 18-20, this being when most very active people tend to join a political party. That would put him in 1997 era. I'm far too cynical i'm sure...

[Donal Blaney]

I thought a new dictionary definition might be helpful for anyone who feels uncomfortable with this chap's defection and rapid promotion::

CARPETBAGGER

SYLLABICATION: car·pet·bag·ger
PRONUNCIATION: kärpt-bgr
NOUN: 1. A Northerner who went to the South after the Civil War for political or financial advantage. 2. An outsider, especially a politician, who presumptuously seeks a position or success in a new locality.
ETYMOLOGY: So called because they carried their belongings in carpetbags.
OTHER FORMS: carpet·bagger·y —NOUN

[Andy Stidwill]

Peter Bottomley must be nearing retirement as MP for Worthing West. It wouldn't surprise me if Francis Maude has a go at using the Gold List to get Rehman Chishti selected there, since its in the same county.

[John Hustings]

"Sounds like just the person the party should be trying to attract"

Why is there a "type" of person the party should be attracting, Frank?

[Cllr Iain Lindley]

I suspect Peter Bottomley's disgraceful chicken-run to Worthing probably qualifies him under Donal's definition above... ;)

[Donal Blaney]

If we are playing the quota game and giving seats to people because of their race, sex, sexuality and so on - rather than on merit - please can we give the seats to people who have at least DONE something FOR the Conservative Party, conservatism or who have even shown support for the Party and its beliefs in the past?

[Frank Young]

The sort of people who traditionally have been turned off by the tory party. Possibly because we've given the impression we don't want to "attract" them.

[Donal Blaney]

It does indeed, Iain. I have to say I had completely forgotten Peter Bottomley was an MP. A prime case of bed-blocking it seems to me.

[Donal Blaney]

Frank: ALL of us presumably want more Asians, blacks, working class voters, gays, public sector workers, women, men, immigrants, businessmen and anyone else who has not voted Tory to vote Tory next time.

But is rewarding carpetbaggers the best way to do this? The resentment this risks causing in associations and among activists who have dedicated years and considerable financial investment to the Party and the conservative cause is substantial.

[Andy Stidwill]

The challenge is simple, IMHO: we need to modernise but without sending our traditional supporters in the direction of Roger Knapman and the rest of his UKIP gadflies.

[Frank Young]

I'm certainly very sceptical about this and i'm sure he or the party wouldn't try to force a recent convert on a constituency.

[Recess Monkey]

I love the Tories. They get worked up into a lather about positive discrimination in selections for women or brown people and then institute positive discrimination for Socialists - We haven't even got that in the Labour Party.

[john Skinner]

Welcome Rehman. But as soon as possible, tell Mr Maude that you have diverse interests in mainstream culture and have no wish to be shunted into the ethnic cul-de-sac.

[Donal Blaney]

If the Party leadership followed our Editor's advice and followed "the And theory of conservatism" then many of us who are proud of the Party's past achievements and who believe we have much to learn from past victories (while, of course, modernising our message and the means of its delivery and our campaigning techniques) would be less irritable about such political gesturing.

[Recess Monkey]

I really must go to sleep, but didn't want to do so without telling you that the Tory press release mis-spelled your new member's name in time for it to be wrong in all of tomorrow's papers.

ha ha ha ha
*sinister laugh*

Recess Monkey

[Chad]

In short, this would have been very welcome news without the painful addition of an instant role as a diversity advisor to Maude.

Is this really any different from black actors only being offered roles as crooks?

This is the 21st century, for Dave's sake.

The Cameroons are creating genetically modified diversity instead of introducing the environment to allow it to grow naturally.

[Interested Observer]

It is very easy to be cynical about this type of thing, so in a spirited attempt to look on the bright side ...

The guy is only 25. It is often said that it is only as you get a bit older you turn into a Conservative - some of us are obviously old before our time. Maybe he has genuinely seen the light.

As to having a Diversity Council and a Diversity Adviser, at least it represents a diversity of views if nothing else.

Nadim is also quite right that the party constitution states that people who have run against an official Conservative candidate cannot be allowed to stand as an official Conservative candidate. The big proviso is that this can be overturned by the Party board ... and I am sure I don't need to finish that particular sentence.

And can we please stop leaping up and down about individual polls. We are not going to know what the Cameron effect is until we can examine the results from next May in the round.

ICM's results are always the most interesting, because their website separates them out into three regions. If you take the three most recent polls at any one time, you can get a big enough sample to make each set of regional figures meaningful. Interestingly, they show that the drop in LibDem support occurred in the north, and was a swing back to Labour. The LibDems held steady in the south and the midlands. We manage large swings in the Midlands and the South - but we will always fall short of an overall majority until we can manage appreciable swings north of Birmingham.

Will anyway of this prove to be the case on May 4th though? Let's bottle up our excitement for a few more weeks.

[Hmmmm]

Carpetbagger gets it exactly right. The Party is becoming a home for every z list celeb who craves more fame, every unprincipled politico on the make, and every toff who fancies being in charge for a bit cos he's bored.

They will all, yes all, get bored and turn to bite the hand that feeds.

Appointing this guy an advisor looks cosmetic and pathetic. Not the actions of a party that wants to be taken seriously, but rather an attempt to get a short term publicity hit. We are starting to look desperate again...not confident...

[Ted]

The underlying problem here is the rationing of seats - most comment is that its unfair because he'll take a target/safe seat away from a longer serving Conservative (a bit like arguments about immigrants on other thread that they take homes/jobs away from residents).

So I think I've changed my mind about English Parliament & Regional assemblies - lets increase the supply side of political representation! That way instead of only 250-350 conservatives having opportunity to stand we could have 50 or so per region (so say 400), another 200 or so in English Parliament and the westminster parliament, Scots, Welsh assemblies = 900 to 1000 opportunities (with equivalent number of candidates fighting seats we can't win) Jobs for all activists who want to become MPs, MSPs, MRAs etc!

Seriously though no talk about carpetbaggers - those sorts of words only apply to people who defect to Labour or Lib Dems. We are a welcoming party and we do need people like Rehman - if we limit our candidates only to those with a history of conservative membership & activism then we remain a party rooted in the past.

I like belonging to a party that has for example the passion of James Hellyer, the sceptism of Sean Fear, the equally passionate Justin Hinchcliffe, a-Tracy's small business take, DVA, Frank etc. Having people like Rehman in the mix benefits us, there's no real downside.

[wasp]

I still don't get why anyone defects, they just end up getting hated by both sides.

[malcolm]

No Wasp they don't, Churchill being the best example.Defectors should though earn their spurs with their new party before they are offered anything in return.Blair did Shaun Woodward no favours by parachuting him into a safe seat and then rewarding him with a ministerial job.I understand Woodward is now regarded with contempt by all sides in the house.I think Maude has made the same mistake and Rehman is going to have work very hard to convince people that he has defected for the right reasons.

[Daniel Vince-Archer]

"Rehman was born in Pakistan and studied law in Aberystwyth where he was active in student politics."

I feel that all politically-minded graduates of the University of Wales, Aberystwyth should be welcomed into top jobs within the Conservative Party as soon as possible. If Francis needs another adviser on diversity and non-racial equality issues, I feel I would be an excellent choice!

[Sean Fear]

Thank you Ted.

[malcolm]

Yes DVA,but didn't you once tell me that you grew up in Stevenage?Surely that should disbar you from getting a job with anyone!

[Sean Fear]

Is this really any different from black actors only being offered roles as crooks?"

I read that actually it's worse than that for black actors; many of the best roles in films go to villains, but Hollywood is reluctant to portray black people as villains (other than sterotypical villains in black neighbourhoods). A black actor is much more likely to be offered the role of the worthy (but completely dull) senior police officer.

[Daniel Vince-Archer]

"Yes DVA,but didn't you once tell me that you grew up in Stevenage?Surely that should disbar you from getting a job with anyone!"

Sssh! The modern, inclusive Conservatives should be reaching out to people from disadvantaged backgrounds! Perhaps I could advise Francis on chav culture?

[Daniel Vince-Archer]

"I read that actually it's worse than that for black actors; many of the best roles in films go to villains, but Hollywood is reluctant to portray black people as villains (other than sterotypical villains in black neighbourhoods). A black actor is much more likely to be offered the role of the worthy (but completely dull) senior police officer."

Yes, since the end of the Cold War, Hollywood villains have tended to be either of Arabic/Moslem extraction or, for some completely unfathomable reason, British.

Before that, Hollywood villains tended to be either of eastern European extraction or, for some completely unfathomable reason, British.

In both cases, the hero is always, without exception, American.

[malcolm]

Not from Stevenage mate,that's a step too far even for a liberal fairminded bloke like me!

[James Hellyer]

Sssh! The modern, inclusive Conservatives should be reaching out to people from disadvantaged backgrounds!

Whatever gave you that idea? I thought the target demographic from Cameron's Conservatives were oppressed non-establishment, multi-millionaire, anti-supermarket, magazine owners...

[Daniel Vince-Archer]

"Not from Stevenage mate,that's a step too far even for a liberal fairminded bloke like me!"

But Stevenage should be one of our target seats at the next election and surely I would be an ideal candidate for the parachute, sorry 'priority' list for that seat? I'm young (22), I'm intelligent (well I fink so anyway), I tick several boxes on the 'inclusive' checklist, I'm a member of the Conservatives and I've never lost an election! ;-)

"Whatever gave you that idea? I thought the target demographic from Cameron's Conservatives were oppressed non-establishment, multi-millionaire, anti-supermarket, magazine owners..."

LOL! Don't forget jobless actors, failed former PPCs and, worst of all, Liberal Democrats...

[michael]

Rehman, welcome to the Conservative Party.

I hope his defection will encourage Labour and Lib Dem MPs, MEPS, Councillors and activists.

Cameron is erecting a big tent, all we need to do now is fill it!

[johnC]

'I hope his defection will encourage Labour and Lib Dem MPs, MEPS, Councillors and activists.'

...but I want them to be discouraged, not encouraged.

'Cameron is erecting a big tent'

... a quick canvas of the guys on here suggests he faces a big haul to reach the top of the greasy pole.

[Rebel]

Editor writes I think Rehman Chishti should be welcomed to the Tory Party and Francis Maude should be congratulated for wooing him into the blue corner.

Why exactly? What about this gentleman suggests that he is any way shares conservative positions? Just because someone crosses the aisle doesn't make them another Churchill. There was ABSOLUTELY nothing in your post about CONTENT, PHILOSOPHY, IDEAS, POSITIONS, POLICIES.

Nothing. Just another politically correct "diversity adviser" whose career isn't going fast enough in the Labour party?

Please. Unless I hear some good reason I couldn't care less about this chap. And neither should you.

[Samuel Coates]

There was ABSOLUTELY nothing in your post about CONTENT, PHILOSOPHY, IDEAS, POSITIONS, POLICIES.
I would have liked it if he gave more detailed reasons for his switch, but that's all there was for me to work on.
He has only been in the party for a day, I think it would be unfair to judge the young man so soon.

[James Hellyer]

As he's only been in the party a day, perhaps offering him any formal role was precipitous.

[James Cleverly]

Can we get him to write a "Hello world" piece here. I know it would be a trial by ordeal but he may win a few people around. Or he might not.

Francis Maude wrote a piece after getting a slating here and I think he came out of it well.

[James Hellyer]

Francis Maude wrote a piece after getting a slating here and I think he came out of it well.

While he pretended to listen, yes. Then he asked people to get involved and promptly forgot all about them.

He came out of that rather less well.

[Selsdon Man]

James, this site should only publish articles by genuine Conservatives, not opportunistic careerist arrivistes.

[Andrew Kennedy]

"Cameron is erecting a big tent, all we need to do now is fill it!"

-most people that erect big tents do so to accommodate a circus.

[Chris Palmer]

I'm always highly sceptical of defected MP's. They are either:

1) Highly stupid to have campaigned and stood for another party when holding conservative views, or

2) Are being opportunistic.

Either way, the most sinister thing of all is the fact that if they betrayed their original party to switch to Conservative, what is the chance they will betray us when the time suits them?

MP's switching sides: YES
PPC's switching sides: NO