Cameron's Conservatives could be close to winning over a second Liberal Democrat candidate in as many months.
Adrian Graves - twice PPC for Suffolk West - was the first defector, and there were rumours of a Labour candidate joining the Conservatives over the weekend.
Now Cllr Tim Perkins - deputy leader of Salford Liberal Democrats and twice a PPC for the party in Bolton (the second time against Ruth Kelly) - has hinted to the Manchester Evening News that he may switch sides:
"I think the Lib Dems have had a period of drift nationally and I would like to see how things develop."
He admitted that his Liberal Democrat party membership had lapsed and he had no plans to renew it.
"I've been impressed with the new regime of the Conservative Party under David Cameron and I will be watching to see how effective they are," he said.
Asked if he might come back into politics with a new look Conservative Party, he said: "I would not rule that out".
David Cameron wasted no time making a pitch to the Liberal Democrats, and during the Lib Dem leadership race there was much talk about Menzies Campbell contrasting poorly with him. Core-vote Conservatives may have cause to worry if the party attracted support from stereotypical Lib Dem activists, but Cllr Perkins was actually a founding member of Chad Noble's Centre for Progressive Conservatism. According to Chad, he is "an intelligent man with balanced views" who has been pondering the switch for a while, so there is only so much we can read from his recent statement.
Cllr Perkins hasn't defected yet, and may not do in time for the Spring Forum in Manchester, but hopefully he represents a significant minority of moderate supporters of the Lib Dems that are having second thoughts about which ship they should be in. The more the merrier.
Deputy Editor
Cllr Lindley have you any involvement in this????!!!!
Posted by: Frank Young | March 13, 2006 at 15:29
Tim is wise, and has vision.
I see him as a valuable barometer in gauging how well Cameron has succeeded or failed to convince Liberals that there has been real change in the Tory party.
I'll watch with interest.
Posted by: Chad | March 13, 2006 at 15:38
Iain broke the story earlier. Perhaps he can enlighten us about his record in the area..
Posted by: Sam Coates | March 13, 2006 at 15:40
I can see the headline in the Sun on Tuesday: Ming Rocked as Perkins Defects Shocker!'.
I have never heard of Cllr Tim Perkins. If he wishes to defect do we have the option to refuse him?
Posted by: PD | March 13, 2006 at 15:44
Why are people making so much fuss about these defections? So far we have had one Lib Dem former PPC and now there are rumours of another Lib Dem former PPC and a former Labour PPC. If we were having Lib Dem MPS or Labour MPs defecting to us then I could understand the excitement, even if they were former MPs!
Can we please keep things in perspective?
Posted by: Richard | March 13, 2006 at 15:51
But it shows the way the wind is blowing. When was the last time anyone defected to us ? I can only think of Reg Prentice and that was nearly 30 years ago.
Posted by: johnC | March 13, 2006 at 16:09
It does show the way the wind is blowing.
But there is something distasteful about defections/defectors which I can't quite put my finger on.
Oh yes, I remember now...it's the fact they won't defect without the promise of a job first...
Posted by: Chris | March 13, 2006 at 16:12
I can't recall Tim at any stage ever suggesting that he would only move if he was promised a job first. He's values driven.
Posted by: Chad | March 13, 2006 at 16:20
I think actually the last defection we had was Richard Balfe MEP in 2003 (?). Before that it would have been the Finkelstein Social Democrats going across to join John Major's team.
I think I'm right in saying that John Horam has the distinction of having been an MP for Labour, the SDP and us.
Posted by: William Norton | March 13, 2006 at 16:53
Defection make a pleasant change to defecation. No more Mingers please.
Posted by: Dim Lebs | March 13, 2006 at 17:51
Can we give Richard Balfe back?
Posted by: lambo | March 13, 2006 at 18:03
Tim's a good guy and is waiting to be assured that the changes are real. If he was waiting for a job before defection, then he wouldn't have announced his non-renewal of his Lib Dem membership, as he already had a job with them.
It speaks volumes about his integrity that he hasn't just switched, but has announced his leaving of the Lib Dems.
Posted by: Christina | March 13, 2006 at 18:13
What was the name of the Labour MP who defected to the LibDems and then back to Labour? Is he still with Labour or did he lose at the last election?
Posted by: Jack | March 13, 2006 at 18:15
Paul Marsden?
Posted by: Jonathan Sheppard | March 13, 2006 at 18:47
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/vote_2005/frontpage/4414967.stm
That's him. He re-joined Labour one month before the General Election. He then stood down. What a bizarre fellow!
Posted by: Jack | March 13, 2006 at 18:55
"I think I'm right in saying that John Horam has the distinction of having been an MP for Labour, the SDP and us."
You are correct. If defectors tend to be the kind of people who will blow with the political wind (regardless of the direction), why do we get so excited about them?
Posted by: CDM | March 13, 2006 at 18:56
Paul Marsden has quit the game. He quit Labour complaining of the Whips attitude when he spoke out against Afghanistan. He then quit Lib Dem just before the General Election claiming more heavy tactics.
He's now writing a book about his experiences, and settling in with his newly acquired Russian girlfriend. He's certainly one of the more versatile MP's of recent years (with many others to compete with) - let's hope he dishes the dirt good and proper.
Posted by: R UK | March 13, 2006 at 19:53
Is the excitement getting too much? We have had a few defections in the East Midlands, all Councillors and LDs too. One joined us in Derby last week and is a welcome asset to the Group on the City Council. A former Lib Dem who joined us on Leicestershire County Council last year is already making a contribution. Because most of us would never think of defecting we don't realise how hard it is for many people to do. We should welcome them.
Posted by: David Surtees | March 13, 2006 at 21:11
A counciller and former PPC are really nothing to get worked up about. People in local government swap parties with worrying regularity (local politics is often far more affected by personality clashes than partisan loyalties or ideology), and judging by some PPCs the Lib Dems have fielded, quality candidates are not their forte.
If this was a sitting MP (or even a former MP) I might be more excited.
Posted by: James Hellyer | March 13, 2006 at 21:19
I think the underlying issue is momentum - "the big mo". The media perceives this to be a sacrifice of some sort - an attempt to propitiate the angry gods which control all political destinies - that marks a dramatic change in the political environment.
People in the public eye who switch from one party to another risk being ridiculed for their actions. But that isn't pleasant, so even if there was a huge gulf between their views and those of their current party, why would they do it? They might be publicity seekers who feel that any amount of public ignominy is better than being ignored. But they might just be saying 'I want to be on the winning side'.
By and large, the media seem to assume the latter. If the press portray it as momentous, then it is - for the moment. And enough of such moments is what creates political momentum. So while it's hard to tell how critical any one event is, even years later, there is significance to the overall pattern of events and of the press reaction to them.
From my view, talk of LibDem defections needs to be seen in the context of the ICM poll showing public dissatisfaction with Labour's handling of the NHS, and the Grauniad saying "Blair's foul legacy of sleaze threatens to stick to Labour and finish off Brown as well". It could indicate that the will of the people is to turf Labour - old and new - out of Westminster, and is settling on the Conservatives to replace them.
Posted by: Giffin Lorimer | March 13, 2006 at 21:20
If we are not careful we might end up with Shaun Woodward back.
Posted by: Andrew Kennedy | March 13, 2006 at 22:44
Helen Clark, the former Labour MP who lost her Peterborough seat stated last May that she was thinking about defecting to us, so could it be her that is the former Labour candidate who is poised to defect?
Posted by: Terry Keen | March 14, 2006 at 00:19
Thank you Andrew. I was making some derogatory remarks about him yesterday, but I couldnt remember the wretched mans name! Woodward. That was him. Repeat. Weshould send back any of his ilk. His integrety may be a tad suspect.
Posted by: Annabel Herriott | March 14, 2006 at 00:20
Helen Clark defected last year, Terry.
Posted by: James Hellyer | March 14, 2006 at 07:33
Helen Clark???? Lets hope we can do better than that!!
Posted by: Frank Young | March 14, 2006 at 08:51
Is this the same Helen Clark who managed to achieve one of the largest Lab > Con swings in 2001, then achieved another 9% fall in her vote in 2005 ?
The same Helen Clark that announced from the steps on Peterborough Town Hall after her defeat "Despite my sadness, we must applaud and cheer the Labour Government" then applied to join the Conservative Party just three days later, saying she was ashamed to be associated with Tony Blair.
The same Helen Clark that accused her Conservative opponent of assualt, then quietly dropped the charges after a CPS enquiry ?
The same Helen Clark that hit the headlines in 2000 following complaints from her neighbours about "continual and ongoing" disturbances / raised voices / smashing sounds coming from her property in the early hours.
Frank - how right you are, I too hope we can do better!
Posted by: Andrew Kennedy | March 14, 2006 at 15:50
It is worrying that these fair weather politicians just want power at any price. They will go with whichever party they think they can succeed in. Forget principles.
If Lib/Dims are defecting to the Tories, you have to ask yourself if the Tories are a real Conservative Party, or just a TINO Party (Tory in Name Only Party).
Posted by: Margaret | March 14, 2006 at 18:51
This latest Lib Dem "defector" only joined us from the Pro-Euro Tories a few years ago. A case of returning whence he came, methinks.
Posted by: Orange Booker | March 14, 2006 at 23:16
As I understand it, Tim worked for the Pro-European Conservatives and wasn't actually a member.
Posted by: Cllr Iain Lindley | March 15, 2006 at 18:53