'I don’t see Wakefield as a Labour MP' - John McDonnell | Times Radio

John McDonnell has told Times Radio he "wasn't pleased" Bury South MP Christian Wakeford joined The Labour Party this week, calling it a "political stunt".
Speaking to Cathy Newman on Drive, the former Shadow Chancellor said: "I wasn't particularly pleased to be honest. I know it's a bit of a political stunt and it might well have damaged the Conservatives in some way. But looking at some of his past statements and his past voting record, to be honest I don't see him as a as a Labour MP and I was brought up a Roman Catholic, so I'm a great believer in the power as a conversion, but on this one it strained even my belief in the conversion."
He called for a by-election in Bury South:
"Yes, you're elected as an individual MP, but its largely on a party ticket. And if you change that ticket, you should go back to the electorate themselves who elected you."
And he said Keir Starmer might regret welcoming in Christian Wakeford to The Labour Party:
"I have to say it's one of those coups where sometimes they come back and you might regret them. And the more I learn of this person's voting record and some of the comments he's made, and I contrast that with the way that Jeremy Corbyn has been treated, for example, I found it difficult to support. I hear, someone contact me today, I didn't realise, but I hear that when Christian Wakeford was a Conservative MP he attacked me on the floor of the House over my position with regard to opposing the government's Nationality Bill. I missed it but someone pointed that out to me. He attacked me and Richard Burgon by name I believe."
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