[A-List] UK state: political realignment

["Michael Keaney" <michael.keaney@xxxxxx>]

Lib Dems win over former Tory MP

Lucy Ward, political correspondent
Tuesday November 12, 2002
The Guardian

The Liberal Democrats yesterday made further capital from the turmoil
afflicting the Conservatives when a former MP became the 15th Tory
parliamentarian to defect to the party.

Harold Elletson, MP for Blackpool North from 1992 to 1997, said he was
making the switch because the Tories no longer represented a "credible
opposition".

"They have become more an alternative comedy than an alternative
government," he said, claiming the Conservatives have been reduced from a
national party to a "rump" in the south-east of England.

The defection of Dr Elletson, the third former Conservative MP from the
north-west to switch to the Lib Dems, provides further indication that
Charles Kennedy's party is reaping benefit from Tory woes. A poll in last
weekend's Sunday Telegraph suggested voters view the Lib Dems and Tories as
equal on 44% in providing the best opposition to the government, and the Lib
Dems' poll position has crept up as Conservative standing has waned.

Lib Dem strategists acknowledge the list of defecting former
parliamentarians - eight MPs and seven members of the European parliament -
does not include well-known names. But they insist the drip effect is an
indication of declining faith that the Tories will return to government in
the foreseeable future.

They point out that at 41, Dr Elletson is much younger than previous
defectors and is keen to continue his political career - though he has not
been promised a seat.

Dr Elletson said he believed there had been a "fundamental shift" in British
politics, which meant the Tories could struggle to form a future government.

He had been considering joining the Lib Dems for some time but had finally
made his decision after the crisis last week which engulfed Iain Duncan
Smith's leadership.

Since the last election, the Lib Dems have sought to claim the title of
"real opposition", notably with a questioning approach to Tony Blair's
stance over Iraq.