A Brighton doctor who went on to become a Conservative MP and then Health Minister has resigned from the Tory party to join Labour.
Dan Poulter, 45, worked as a registrar at the Royal Sussex County Hospital where he specialised in obstetrics, gynaecology and women’s health.
He has since become a consultant psychiatrist while serving as the MP for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich and as Health Minister for three years when David Cameron was Prime Minister.
In an article on the Guardian and Observer news website, Dr Poulter said: “The chaos of today’s fragmented patchwork of community addiction services – making A&E the default location for people to get treatment and help – has added pressure to an already overstretched service.
“The mental toll of a service stretched close to breaking point is not confined to patients and their families.
“It also weighs heavily on my NHS colleagues who are unable to deliver the right care in a system that simply no longer works for our patients.
“It is this which has led me today to have resigned from the Conservative Party to focus on my work as a doctor and to support Keir Starmer, Labour’s shadow health secretary Wes Streeting and the Labour Party both before and after the general election on NHS policy.
“I shall continue to serve my constituents to the best of my ability until the next election – which I believe Rishi Sunak should call as soon as possible.
“After 14 years as an MP, including a period as health minister, I shall not be standing for Parliament again.”
To read the article in full, click here.
The Tories have run down public services appalling over many years as their ideology of small state damages essential services and they only pay lip service to ‘compassion’!
The next election looking like a cert for Labour.
Hopefully Tom Gray will win Pavilion, beating Sian ,the weekend visitor
I’ve been thinking this about the upcoming Labour win and Conservative wipeout as well Mike.
Sian, I’ve had thoughts about as well. If she lived somewhere else, but still did a lot in Brighton, I’d be okay with it…but, her previous history of failed campaigns in London doesn’t inspire me much that she actually cares about Brighton, but rather trying an easier seat because a popular Green was there before.
Scenario: You are already employed. There is a vacancy that will arise in a year’s time for a job that is a non-commutable distance from where you live. You are suitably qualified to do the job, and will apply when the vacancy is announced.
Question: In anticipation of being interviewed and possibly appointed in a year’s time, should you a) resign from your current job and b) move house near to where the new job is?
I get where you’re going with that Justin, but unfortunately, “suitably qualified” for many of the electorate is that person already lives and works in that particular area to ensure a level of dedication to the area in which they are applying for. The lack of this is going to be noted by the electorate, especially in Brighton, who are already put on edge from bad actors. If you need an example, there are comments on here about Ward Councillors who are just outside their wards, even with a storied history of dedication to their wards, and even the upcoming candidates are under a high level of scrutiny in this regard.
Well, she is welcome to try, I just think she’ll end up adding another loss to her campaign records.
He should resign ….. He no longer represents the people only himself.
Well said, resign now and run for labour in the next election you turn coat.
He said he’s not going to stand at the next election which is going to be held in a couple of months anyway,
There is no requirement for an MP (or councillor for that matter) to resign if they change party.
Lee Anderson positively said he wouldn’t trigger a by-election when he switched to Reform.
What this country needs, is a properly elected prime minister, to form a properly elected government, to run the country for the benefit of everyone. Since 2019 we have not had a properly elected Prime Minister and the country has been run like it has a managing director in charge who hasn’t a clue what to do. It is now time for the people of this country to decide who they want to do the job, not a bunch of party cronies. General Election NOW!
I do not believe we have what we need in any of the current political parties to run a country. Too many graduates of political studies, not enough people who have had real jobs.
Straight in the bin