Why Suffolk MP Dan Poulter switched from Tories to Labour

Speaking after he revealed on Saturday that he would not be seeking re-election in the next general election - and would spend his remaining time in Parliament on the Labour benches - he said the NHS needed a new start.

Central Suffolk and North Ipswich MP Dr Poulter dropped his bombshell on Saturday evening just as local party workers were preparing for Thursday's local elections - and his former Tory colleagues were not impressed by his timing.

Dr Poulter said: "I have been concerned about the NHS for some time. As a psychiatrist working in the NHS I can see the problems - and how they have not got better."

He was a junior health minister between 2013 and 2015 during the coalition government, but felt that in recent years problems had become much worse.

Dr Poulter backed Sir Keir Starmer and the Labour Party over the future of the NHS (Image: Danny Lawson)

He recently started work as a part-time consultant psychiatrist at Ipswich Hospital.

In a letter to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Dr Poulter said in "all professional conscience" he could not continue representing the Conservatives.

Dr Poulter wrote a letter to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (Image: PA)

Dr Poulter said it had become clear to him over recent months that the Labour Party had far better plans to help the NHS.

He said: "The Conservative Party has changed compared to how it was when I was first elected in 2010. There are still good people in there, both in Parliament and locally, but its general direction has changed.

"Also [Labour leader] Keir Starmer has totally changed the Labour Party since he became leader after the 2019 election - and it has far better policies now. Especially for the NHS.

Labour was quick to herald the arrival of its newest MP. (Image: Labour Party)

"I think the Prime Minister should get on and call a general election as soon as possible. The NHS needs a new start."

Dr Poulter hoped to be able to help advise the Labour Party on drawing up the details of its new health policy.

He added: "Until the election I will carry on with my constituency work - in many ways that isn't that political and I shall be continuing to represent my constituents in parliament until an election is called.

"I had thought about resigning and calling a by-election, but that isn't what we need. We need a general election and the sooner the better."

Dr Poulter's timing of his announcement angered Ian Fisher, who is the leader of the opposition Conservative group on Ipswich Borough Council.

Ian Fisher was not happy with Dr Poulter's defection (Image: Archant)

He said: "Why has he done it now? It's five days before the election. I know a lot of people have already voted by post - but it looks like he's trying to cause the maximum damage.

"There's a lot of people who have worked very hard for him over the years and the timing of this is really bad."

His fellow Conservative councillor Sam Murray took to X, formerly Twitter, to express her anger - claiming that he had often ignored the Ipswich area of his constituency.

Sam Murray was also unimpressed with Dr Poulter's decision (Image: Newsquest)

She said: "We work so hard in North Ipswich as a Conservative group and have had to carry him for years and make so many excuses for his regular cancellations."