The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Starmer welcomes in ‘angry’ defector
Sir Keir Starmer will today vow to “inject resource and reform” into mental health services as he welcomes MP and psychiatrist Dr Dan Poulter – who quit the Tory Party in anger over the NHS crisis – to Labour.
The Labour leader will promise to “overhaul” the way mental health is approached if he wins the election as he visits his party’s newest MP.
Dr Poulter, a former Tory health minister and parttime medic, made the shock announcement he was crossing the floor to Labour on Saturday.
He said Rishi Sunak’s government was “failing” the NHS and he could no longer “look my NHS colleagues in the eye” as a Conservative.
“The health service has ceased to be an area of priority for the Conservative Party. That is now showing in the strain on the front line and the deterioration of care for patients,” he said.
Dr Poulter said “the only cure is a Labour government”, and he would support Sir Keir and shadow health secretary Wes Streeting on NHS policy.
Sir Keir said “it’s fantastic” Dr Poulter has joined Labour and will help get the NHS back on its feet.
It comes as Labour point to NHS data showing 120,000 children waited six months or longer between referral for mental health support and treatment in 2022-23, with Sir Keir calling these waits “a scar on a civilised society”.
The Labour Party has said it plans to improve the Mental Health Act and provide 8,500 speciallytrained mental health staff, support in every school and an open access early intervention hub in every community, paid for by closing tax loopholes.
Sir Keir said: “I will not sit on my hands while tens of thousands have their lives on hold and ambition curtailed while they languish on mental health waiting lists.”
Dr Poulter will take the Labour whip until the general election but will not stand again to be MP for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich, a traditionally safe Tory seat where he was first elected in 2010.
Dr Poulter’s move heaped pressure on Mr Sunak ahead of what is already expected to be a tough week for the prime minister.
It could spook already restive Tory MPs who are considering moving against Mr Sunak in the case of a disastrous set of local and mayoral elections results for the Conservatives on May 2.