Defector MP Christian Wakeford has thanked Keir Starmer for creating a Labour Party that feels like a safe space for a former Conservative MP.

Christian Wakeford, the MP for Bury South, defected from the Conservative Party to the Labour Party today after revelations of multiple lockdown parties at 10 Downing Street.

“I didn’t get invited to any of them, which is bullshit,” said an emotional Wakeford. “Us people from the North love to get drunk on the job too.”

The lack of invite made it easy for Christian Wakeford to defect, the only question was who he’d defect to.

“There were a lot of other options to consider. UKIP seemed like a natural bedfellow because it’s my turn to be the leader next month. But, after talking to right-wing colleagues in Labour, they told me they felt very safe in the party right now,” Christian told us.

The defection is being seen as a major victory for Keir Starmer and his new-look Labour Party.

“I knew gathering around the Thatcher portrait and saying three ‘Hail Margeret’s’ would do something,” Starmer beamed.