A third Conservative MP defects to Labour

Mark Logan becomes the third Conservative MP to flip his allegiance and join the Labour party. He crossed the floor last Thursday.

This is the third MP in just the last few weeks to do so. He follows Dan Poulter and the (controversial) Natalie Elphicke.

This is quite rare behaviour! Even when MPs do quit or get expelled from their party but don’t want to stop being an MP it’s more usual for them to stand next as as independent rather that switch directly to another party.

Apparently only one Conservative MP left their party before 1992. And the first defection specifically from the Conservative to the Labour party wasn’t until Alan Howarth did so in 1995.

It’s extra rare to see someone leave the currently-governing party to the main opposition. Alan Howarth’s 1995 defection was once again the last instance of that happening.