Conservative Mark Logan defects to Labour in fresh blow to Rishi Sunak

Rishi Sunak speaks to workers at the Niftylift cherrypicker factory near Milton Keynes, where he was challenged over Partygate by a man whose mother died of Covid. Photograph: Leon Neal/Getty Images

Rishi Sunak has been dealt a fresh blow from within his own ranks after another outgoing Conservative MP said he is now backing Labour.

Mark Logan, who represented Bolton North East until parliament was dissolved, said the Tory party was “now unrecognisable” from the one he joined a decade ago and that Labour could “bring back optimism into British life”.