<p>In a major blow to UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's Conservative Party, Tory MP and former health minister Dr Dan Poulter defected to Keir Starmer's Labour Party. Dr Poulter said that the Conservatives have become a “nationalist party of the right” that no longer prioritises the NHS or the National Health Service (NHS), which is a government-funded healthcare system in the United Kingdom that provides free services to almost the entire population, except for certain services.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Dr Dan Poulter is the MP for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich. Dr Poulter also works part-time as a mental health doctor in an NHS hospital.</p>

<p>In an interview with the Observer, Dr Poulter announced he was resigning as a Tory MP and would be taking the Labour whip until the next election.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;UK PM Rishi Sunak coaxes voters with key legislations</strong></p>

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<p>He claimed he would not seek re-election to the House of Commons at the next general election. But he added that he sees a role for himself advising the Labour party on its policies on mental health while focusing more on his NHS work.</p>

<p>"I could not go on as part of that. I have to be able to look my NHS colleagues in the eye, my patients in the eye and my constituents in the eye. And I know that the Conservative government has been failing on the thing I care about most, which is the NHS and its patients," said Dr Poulter</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/boris-johnson-believed-narayana-murthy-was-helping-rishi-sunak-to-become-uk-pm-reveals-new-book-636519">Boris Johnson 'believed' Narayana Murthy was helping Rishi Sunak to become UK PM, claims new book</a></strong></p>

<p>The Labour leader, Keir Starmer, celebrated the move on social media. "It’s fantastic to welcome Dr Dan Poulter MP to today’s changed Labour party," he posted on X. "It’s time to end the Conservative chaos, turn the page, and get Britain’s future back. I’m really pleased that Dan has decided to join us on this journey."</p>

<h2><strong>What does it mean?</strong></h2>

<p>The defection – the first by a Tory MP to Labour since Christian Wakeford's switch to the Labour – is another severe blow to Rishi Sunak before the council and mayoral elections next week, in which the Tory party is expected to lose up to a half of its remaining local authority seats.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


In a major blow to UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's Conservative Party, Tory MP and former health minister Dr Dan Poulter defected to Keir Starmer's Labour Party.

In a major blow to UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's Conservative Party, Tory MP and former health minister Dr Dan Poulter defected to Keir Starmer's Labour Party. Dr Poulter said that the Conservatives have become a “nationalist party of the right” that no longer prioritises the NHS or the National Health Service (NHS), which is a government-funded healthcare system in the United Kingdom that provides free services to almost the entire population, except for certain services. Dr Dan Poulter is the MP for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich. Dr Poulter also works part-time as a mental health doctor in an NHS hospital. In an interview with the Observer, Dr Poulter announced he was resigning as a Tory MP and would be taking the Labour whip until the next election. Also watch | UK PM Rishi Sunak coaxes voters with key legislations × He claimed he would not seek re-election to the House of Commons at the next general election. But he added that he sees a role for himself advising the Labour party on its policies on mental health while focusing more on his NHS work. "I could not go on as part of that. I have to be able to look my NHS colleagues in the eye, my patients in the eye and my constituents in the eye. And I know that the Conservative government has been failing on the thing I care about most, which is the NHS and its patients," said Dr Poulter Also read | Boris Johnson 'believed' Narayana Murthy was helping Rishi Sunak to become UK PM, claims new book The Labour leader, Keir Starmer, celebrated the move on social media. "It’s fantastic to welcome Dr Dan Poulter MP to today’s changed Labour party," he posted on X. "It’s time to end the Conservative chaos, turn the page, and get Britain’s future back. I’m really pleased that Dan has decided to join us on this journey." What does it mean? The defection – the first by a Tory MP to Labour since Christian Wakeford's switch to the Labour – is another severe blow to Rishi Sunak before the council and mayoral elections next week, in which the Tory party is expected to lose up to a half of its remaining local authority seats. (With inputs from agencies)

Major blow to Rishi Sunak as former health minister switches over to Labour Party

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Major blow to Rishi Sunak as former health minister switches over to Labour Party