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James Purnell Posted Tuesday, 9 June 2009 at 00:00 Before an election there is often a bit of 'crossing the floor' takes place. If I had to put money on who from Labour would come over to us, I would put it on Purnell. Monty said: Responded: Tuesday, 9 June 2009 But would you want him ?
Tom FD said: Responded: Tuesday, 9 June 2009 Good. He's one of the few ministers (until this week anyway) that I genuinely rate. He would have made an excellent leader for Labour but I've realised in the past week that the party would never vote for him. I hope he'd be made welcome on the Tory benches. Nigel Allery said: Responded: Tuesday, 9 June 2009 What about Shaun Woodward, to keep up the flipping record? Margaret said: Responded: Tuesday, 9 June 2009 If the Conservative party took back a single MP who had previously crossed the floor of the House they would lose my vote to UKIP, not just for European elections but for good (I am not in your constituency, Nadine! I am however in one of the most marginal constituencies in England). Nicky said: Responded: Thursday, 11 June 2009 I don't think a Labour MP has crossed the floor since Reg Prentice, and that was over 30 years ago. However, Emma Nicholson, Quentin Davies and Shaun Woodward have crossed the floor to the Libs and Labour.
I know Purnell is quite highly rated among some Tory circles, although most people I know hadn't even heard of him until he resigned.
Kate Hoey has been suggested as a possible floor-crosser, since she is close to Boris Johnson and an advisor to the Countryside Alliance. Personally I doubt whether she will though. Former Peterborough MP, Helen Clark, was supposed to be defecting to the Tories but didn't.
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