Defector drawn to Labour optimism

LABOUR leader Sir Keir Starmer might not be terribly popular in his own party as the row over Diane Abbott and other leftwingers rumbled on, but at least he is winning over one-time Tory MPs.

- GRAEME WHITFIELD

The defection of outgoing Bolton North East MP Mark Logan from the Conservatives to Labour was the third this year and fourth since the 2019 election, with Mr Logan saying that a Government led by Sir Keir Starmer was "going to be better for the UK"

In a "personal statement" on Twitter/X - perhaps inspired by the background music from last week's General Election announcement - Mr Logan said New Labour anthem Things Can Only Get Better "represented the optimism of the incoming Labour Government of 1997"