Another Tory defects to Labour in humiliation for Rishi Sunak
Former Tory MP Mark Logan has defected to Labour in a fresh humiliation for Rishi Sunak.
The politician, who has represented Bolton North East since the 2019 election, said the Conservatives were “unrecognisable” from the party he joined a decade ago.
Mr Logan won his seat by just 378 votes, making it one of the most marginal in the country. He had been due to stand for the Tories at the election but will now stand down. Labour already has a candidate for the constituency.
In a scathing resignation letter as he quit the Conservative Party, he declared that “we need a new government and I believe the UK will be best served with that government being a Labour government”.
He added: “We need renewed enthusiasm and optimism in both tone and in policy, and I believe that we are already seeing this through Keir Starmer and the team. I am resigning from the Conservative Party with immediate effect. Regrettably, I will therefore not contest our constituency at the upcoming General Election.”
In an interview with the BBC, he said his application to join Labour was “going in today”. Explaining his decision, he said: “The time has come to bring back optimism into British public life.”
The former businessman added: “I believe as a politician it’s incumbent upon me to be able to say, to look people in the eyes in Bolton and say that I believe that a Labour government is going to serve you better, your interests better, it’s going to be better for your pockets, it’s better for the economy, it’s going to be better for the UK.”
Mr Logan compared the mood in the country to when Tony Blair swept to power. He said: “When I look back to my teenage years, in 1997 when Labour came to the fore at that time and we obviously heard the song Things Can Only Get Better, I feel that we’re at that point again in British politics and British history.
“For my constituents and for the country, it’s right that we get some stability back into the UK, we get optimism, we get new and fresh ideas.”
Mr Logan backed Brexit and supported Mr Sunak in the Tory leadership election.
His decision to switch sides comes after Tory MPs Natalie Elphicke and Dr Dan Poulter also defected to Labour earlier this month.
Full resignation letter
“Things can only get better”, by a Northern Irish band, represented the optimism of the incoming Labour government of 1997. Labour is back, and given how things have been, I believe things can only get better. I am very proud to have represented Bolton North East since December 2019 – a mere number of weeks before the Covid pandemic hit our nation. At home in Bolton, we have come through the pandemic and struggled with dire economic conditions: especially inflation.
Abroad we have felt the painful effects of the suffering exacted on the people of Ukraine, and more recently the Hamas terrorist attacks and the ongoing tragedy we see unravelling before our eyes in Gaza. I have consistently lobbied the UK government to ensure we are doing all we can to protect Palestinians. An immediate cessation of all military attacks must ensue, and Palestine must be recognised as a country in its own right, as part of a process that guarantees a safe and secure Israel.
I am mindful that along with hardworking local partners, and in a short time, I’ve been able to secure investment for the Bolton Institute of Medical Sciences, and significant investment to help with the badly needed regeneration of Bolton town centre. And we all know that Bolton, one of the biggest towns in the UK, needs to be on the Metrolink. I pray our next elected MP and government will realise this ambition.
However, after much soul-searching throughout my first term in parliament, brought to a head with the calling of a snap election last week, I have concluded that we need a new government and I believe the UK will be best served with that government being a Labour government. We need renewed enthusiasm and optimism in both tone and in policy, and I believe that we are already seeing this through Keir Starmer and the team.
I am resigning from the Conservative Party with immediate effect. Regrettably, I will therefore not contest our constituency at the upcoming General Election.
This is not an easy decision as many people have been rooting for me since being elected. I pay particular thanks to my team in Bolton and Westminster who have worked hard to deal with record levels of cases and issues these 4.5 years. I am grateful to the councillors and officials who continue to approach politics with positive intent. I thank every Boltonian for being so open and honest when we’ve talked throughout my time as your MP.
I’ve learnt more in these four-plus years than in all of my forty years prior. This is a proud town, with a rich and truly world-impacting history, and I believe people should continue to fight for what the town deserves. The future can be very bright. Thank you for electing me and giving a boy from a similarly ignored part of the UK a chance to represent you in the House of Commons. I am eternally grateful to my family and friends who have been with me on this journey.
The first time I voted, I voted for Labour. The next time I vote it will be a vote for Labour.
With sincere gratitude and optimism for the future
Mark Logan MP
