Tory MP defects to Labour

Tory MP Quentin Davies has defected to Labour on the eve of Gordon Brown taking over as prime minister.

Mr Davies, MP for Grantham and Stamford, made his decision public in a letter to Conservative leader David Cameron.

He wrote: "Under your leadership the Conservative Party appears to me to have ceased collectively to believe in anything, or to stand for anything.

"It has no bedrock. It exists on shifting sands. A sense of mission has been replaced by a PR agenda."

Gordon Brown said he was "delighted" that Tory MP Quentin Davies had joined his party.

Mr Brown said the MP "commands respect on all sides for his dedication to public service".

"Quentin Davies is a senior parliamentarian and he commands respect on all sides for his expertise and his dedication to public service, and I welcome him to the New Labour party," he said.

"On Sunday, I said I was determined to reach out to those who share our values and who would like to be part of building a more just society.

"I said we had to reach out to people who want to change from the old politics, who yearn for a public life founded on principles, who are inspired by what we as a nation can achieve together - and asked them to join us.

"I am delighted that Quentin Davies has done so today."

Tory leader David Cameron told Mr Davies: "I am sorry

you feel unable to be part of today's Conservative Party.

"You have made your choice and the British people will make theirs."

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