Tory defector Christian Wakeford has sparked fury among his former colleagues as he dramatically crossed the floor to join Labour.
The Bury South MP blasted Boris Johnson and the Tories for being "incapable of offering the leadership and government this country deserves" in a brutal letter to the Prime Minister.
His sensational departure to the Labour benches moments before Prime Minister's Questions was calculated to inflict a further blow to Mr Johnson's battered authority.
The PM is fighting for his political life following the revelations over lockdown-flouting parties in Downing Street, with some Tory MPs openly plotting against him.
Ex-Cabinet Minister David Davis rounded on Mr Johnson during the PMQs clash, saying: "In the name of God, go."
But Red Wall MP Jonathan Gullis claimed some MPs were now withdrawing their no-confidence letters in the PM.
But he told Sky News he didn't know who they were or how many there were.
Ashfield MP Lee Anderson told GB News: "I'd like to say I'm surprised, but if anyone was going to defect it'd be Christian Wakeford - 'Wokeford', as we call him in that place over there.
"He's been very vocal in his non-support of the Prime Minister, he's upset colleagues quite a few times with some of his tweets and his messages and I say good riddance to bad rubbish."
Brendan Clarke-Smith, Tory MP for Bassetlaw, told the Times: “Rather than cause division, the defection appears to have galvanised many people.
“I think it was overstated about actual letters going in, and most people are waiting for the Sue Gray report before saying anything further or making any decisions, which I think is the most sensible course of action.”
And a cabinet minister said: “The atmosphere has totally changed. Wakeford’s defection has helped, it’s united the party. In the tearoom there’s total vitriol for those who are plotting to get rid of the prime minister. It’s schoolboy politics but the stakes are incredibly high.”
A series of leaked messages emerged of Mr Wakeford criticising Labour, as his former Tory colleagues sought revenge.
Mr Wakeford told the PM: "I care passionately about the people of Bury South and I have concluded that the policies of the Conservative government that you lead are doing nothing to help the people of my constituency and indeed are only making the struggles they face on a daily basis worse.
"Britain needs a government focused on tackling the cost of living crisis and providing a path out of the pandemic that protects living standards and defends the security of all.
"It needs a government that upholds the highest standards of integrity and probity in public life and sadly both you and the Conservative Party as a whole have shown themselves incapable of offering the leadership and government this country deserves."
He told broadcasters it was "the most difficult decision I have ever had to make''
The new Labour MP said he was not aware of other possible defectors but "I am sure there's a lot of soul searching".
Labour has been in talks with Mr Wakeford about switching sides for "some time" and negotiations "predate" Partygate, a spokesman said.
The party signalled there would not be a by-election - and a decision about whether Mr Wakeford will stand for Labour at next election was a "question obviously for further down the line".
His decision to join Labour led to calls for him to trigger a by-election, as he was elected in 2019 as a Conservative MP.
In 2020 Mr Wakeford supported a backbench Bill demanding MPs who switch parties face a recall petition.
Asked whether there should be a by-election, the Prime Minister's press secretary said: "I think that that is up to the constituents of Bury South."
Patrick Heneghan, Chair of Bury South Labour Party, said: “I welcome the decision of the local MP to quit the failing Conservatives and join the Labour Party.
"Mr Wakeford has rightly concluded that only Keir Starmer can provide the leadership that this country is crying out for.
"Members of our constituency party will be meeting tomorrow to discuss how we will be working with our new Labour MP to fight for the interests of residents and secure a future Labour government."
But left-wing grassroots activist network Momentum said he "should be nowhere near the Labour party".
A Momentum spokesperson said: "Christian Wakeford has voted with this hard-right Tory Government almost 400 times in just two years - voting against measures to stop climate change and tax avoidance and against enabling domestic abuse victims to have access to benefits.
"He should be nowhere near the Labour Party, and the decision by Starmer to accept him is an insult to the millions of working people who want to see a fairer country.
"Wakeford should be booted out of Labour and a by-election called immediately. Labour must back a candidate that will stand up for the people of Bury South and against this Tory Government."
