Dr. Dan Poulter, a former Conservative Health Minister, has defected to the Labour Party, citing dissatisfaction with the Conservative Party's handling of the NHS. The defection has been widely covered in the media and has prompted reactions from both parties. Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting welcomed disaffected Conservatives to Labour, emphasizing the party's commitment to addressing major national issues. The Labour Party has also been vocal about its plans to reform mental health services, with promises to recruit thousands of mental health professionals and establish mental health support across various institutions. Conservatives were left speechless by the defection, while Chris Philp defended the government's NHS record. Labour claims that only Starmer can be trusted with the NHS.
The next Labour government will deliver 8,500 specially-trained mental health staff, mental health support in every school and an open access hub in every community. With @Keir_Starmer as Prime Minister, we will give people the support they need. https://t.co/0IZxbWgl4f
Thousands of people are languishing on mental health waiting lists. Labour would tackle the mental health crisis by: ✅Recruiting 8,500 specialist mental health staff ✅Providing mental health support in every school ✅Setting up mental health hubs in every community https://t.co/9KjhwfZxXs
Labour will completely overhaul the way our country approaches mental health. My mission-driven government will get people off waiting lists and support them back to work by recruiting thousands more mental health staff. Great to have Dan on board with our plan. https://t.co/naQTfyvdLV
Behind every number on an NHS waiting list is a person in pain and in ill-health, with many of them too sick to be in work. That’s why bringing down health waiting lists is a priority for Labour so we can get a healthier Britain working again. https://t.co/5xc2F8CZXt
Now he’s defected - I’ll be asking @DrDanPoulter to join myself, @NSFTCrisis, patients & fellow Labour candidates across Norfolk & Suffolk to demand a full & independent public inquiry into our failed mental health services. https://t.co/mLvH65el71
The next Labour government will not sit on its hands while tens of thousands of people languish on hidden mental health waiting lists. With @Keir_Starmer as Prime Minister, we will give people the support they need. https://t.co/mb3rCE7q5t
Sir Keir Starmer will vow to 'inject resource and reform' into mental health services as he welcomes MP and psychiatrist Dr Dan Poulter – who quit the Tory Party in anger over the NHS crisis – to the Labour Party on Monday https://t.co/4EyeBP1iCy
Tory minister says he 'won't lose sleep' over MP Dan Poulter's defection to Labour as left-wingers slam Keir Starmer for bringing in an 'active opponent of working-class interests' https://t.co/6cCGYUrRQO https://t.co/mbfmibtKD0
Chris Philp defends UK government NHS record after Dan Poulter defects to Labour https://t.co/QC82kpLVxs
Latest Tory defection shows only Starmer can be 'trusted with NHS', Labour says https://t.co/I3HtnL7p4o
“I think he’s speaking for millions of disaffected Conservatives across the country who are feeling politically homeless”. Top Tory MP has defected to Labour and will return to working full time at the NHS says @WesStreeting. 📻 https://t.co/8d3YVxSK4Q @AdamBoultonTABB https://t.co/PoOwqT86jH
Fellow Tories condemn shock Poulter defection as 'sad and disappointing'. https://t.co/0E8lqDfAlw
A former Conservative minister has defected to the Labour Party in a new headache for Rishi Sunak just days before the local elections ⬇️ https://t.co/dauABeb3XP
Millions of former Conservative voters feel politically homeless. I’m asking them to trust the doctor. Give change a chance and vote Labour. https://t.co/wPrxmO6ytG
'Would be very welcome!' Labour's Wes Streeting opens door to Tories after SHOCK defection https://t.co/vPtWYH8Q6g
BREAK: @wesstreeting has hinted he expects more Tories to defect to Labour. He told @CamillaTominey @GBNews he’d signed a letter as a student saying he was against Nuclear weapons. But Mr Streeting said he’d changed his view & insisted Labour was “unrecognisable” from 2019.
Minister defends government NHS record after Dan Poulter defects to Labour https://t.co/n9s4v5kWMp
‘I would ask those people to trust the doctor who has seen the Conservative party up close and has seen Starmer's changed Labour party up close.’ Wes Streeting encourages other MPs to follow in the footsteps of Dr Dan Poulter and defect to the Labour Party. https://t.co/NYhiIw15o8
“We want to build a big tent” Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting says “disaffected” Conservatives are welcome to join Labour to help tackle the country’s big problems #BBCLauraK https://t.co/ziHHfapDZH https://t.co/vObGlHJ3pe
‘He says as a Conservative he can’t look his patients in the eye anymore.’ Former BBC Broadcaster and Journalist, Nicholas Owen, reacts to Conservative MP, Dan Poulter, defecting to Labour. https://t.co/3pVTKSfq7O
Conservatives left 'speechless' after MP's defection https://t.co/UFhSrw5JbO
Former Conservative Health Minister defects to Labour https://t.co/HVO8NSnOOX https://t.co/aZTO6jdFnr
The defection of Tory MP Dr Dan Poulter to Labour features among a variety of stories on the front pages of Sunday’s newspapers https://t.co/fsgNSIBfAa
‘It couldn't be a harder slap in the face!' Political Commentator, Peter Spencer, comments on Tory MP Dr Dan Poulter defecting to Labour over the Conservative's 'NHS failure.' https://t.co/2Hqo5p17Lh