Bury Times Lands MP Defection Exclusive

The Bury Times broke the news of a local MP’s defection from the Conservative Party to Labour amid speculation about Boris Johnson’s future as Prime Minister.

The paper broke the story of Bury South MP Christian Wakeford’s online minutes ahead of Prime Minister’s Questions, with the story also appearing on the paper’s front page this morning.

Mr Wakeford revealed in a letter to David Nuttall, chairman of Bury South Conservatives, that he was tendering his resignation from the party and applying to join Labour.

Keir Starmer says
“I would like to welcome Christian Wakeford to the Labour Party. He has always put the people of Bury South first. ” – Wakeford announced his decision in interview with the Bury Times – expected here any min https://t.co/NfuRQ0V72D

— Laura Kuenssberg (@bbclaurak) January 19, 2022

Speaking to HoldtheFrontPage, Bury Times editor Richard Duggan said: “This huge story is a brilliant example of the importance of local journalism and I am delighted we were able to break the exclusive.

“It’s more important than ever before to support local journalism so I would encourage everyone to go and buy a newspaper and to read the excellent content on their local news websites.”

Got to love the splash copy on tonight’s Bury Times. How much fun would it have been writing that. pic.twitter.com/UlAAwXaluc

— Tom Newton Dunn (@tnewtondunn) January 19, 2022

Great scoop for @burytimes on Christian Wakeford’s defection:

“Under Keir Starmer, the Labour Party is back firmly in the centre of British politics, in touch with working people…My decision is about much more than the leadership of Boris Johnson…”https://t.co/DrWAsmA7Cm

— Kevin Maguire (@Kevin_Maguire) January 19, 2022