Former Tory minister defects to Labour

Former Conservative minister Robert Jackson tonight announced he was defecting to the British Labour Party.

Mr Jackson, the MP for Wantage, Oxfordshire, said Tony Blair, not Michael Howard, should be British Prime Minister for the good of the country.

Victory for the Tories at the forthcoming election would mean “certain harm”, he told The Sunday Telegraph.

The Tories have “dangerous” views on Europe, “incoherent” policies on public services and had “wobbled” on Iraq.

His defection, which threatens to overshadow key economic announcements from the Conservatives, is a severe blow to leader Michael Howard.

In a damning assessment, Mr Jackson said his former party “deserved better leadership”.

Mr Blair said he was "delighted" by the MP's decision.

“He is a decent, fair-minded and dedicated public servant, respected across the House of Commons, who will be warmly welcomed by Labour MPs and members,” the PM said.

“Like many people who used to be Conservatives, he now finds New Labour closer to one-nation politics than the present-day Conservative Party.

“As he rightly says, they have learnt nothing from their two election defeats and are, if anything, drifting further rightwards.

“He offers a serious and measured analysis of where they are continuing to go wrong, and they would do well to listen.

“In the meantime New Labour will continue to promote policies that take our country forward in a way that delivers prosperity, opportunity and modern public services for all.”