Labour Euro MP defects to Tories

Labour's longest-serving Euro MP announced today he is defecting to the Tories, accusing Tony Blair of allowing "spin-doctors and bullies" to take over the party.

In the first such defection for 15 years, Richard Balfe, a 57-year-old MEP for London, attacked the "growing arrogance and dishonesty" of the Government as he switched his support to Iain Duncan Smith.

He wrote in a newspaper today: "Blair and his Downing Street henchmen believe that the ends (their continuation in power) justify the means ( ceaseless lies and evasion."

The last serving Labour politician to switch to the Tories was the late Reg Prentice, who was deselected by the left-wing of the party. He went on to become a social security minister under Margaret Thatcher.

Mr Duncan Smith said today that he was delighted by Mr Balfe's decision, with Tories suggesting that this could be a turning point in the fortunes of the party which has seen defections to New Labour and the Liberal Democrats. But there was no sign this morning that Mr Balfe will be followed by other defectors.