Labour's latest MP Shaun Woodward, a former Tory frontbencher, reviews the week in politics for BBC News Online.

Highlight of the week

"There have been a number of highpoints. There have also been one or two moments of nervousness.

"On the first day back in the chamber after Christmas recess, it was inevitable - it was something I was looking forward to but it was clear it would be difficult.

"It wasn't like changing schools, the institution remained the same, but I was sitting on the other side to the one I'd been sitting on for two-and-a-half years.

"It was fantastic to be greeted by the Parliamentary Labour Party, among whom was Mo Mowlam. I was wondering where I was going to sit then I was swamped by Jim Murphy, Martin Salter and Maria Eagle who swept me up and sat me down.

"They have been extremely welcoming, extremely kind and very generous. That has been the hallmark of the week.

"One has met colleague after colleague who have been extremely magnanimous and extremely understanding. Tony Benn has been extremely welcoming. His remarks [suggesting defecting MPs should contest their seats in by-elections] were related with constitutional issues and it was quite right these issues are raised.

"My task is to demonstrate that what I have to offer the Labour Party. It is undoubtedly the party, which should be in government now and should be in government after the next election because of the right-wards drift of the Conservative Party.

"What it comes down to is values. I disagree with the diagnosis of Mrs Thatcher, that there is no society, only individuals,. There should be opportunity for all, as John Major described it, standing on the steps of Downing Street but in his years the Conservative Party prevented him from pursuing that.

"My values are about building not only the sort of society with people in it who can do well for themselves and their families, but a society that can be judged not only by the strong but also how the weak, the vulnerable and the old, are cared for and can develop their potential.

"I suppose you could say it is about enterprise and fairness, a society which has social justice as its core values. Hand in hand these values have been by and large crucial in the development of democratic socialism. They are one nation values - whoever you are, regardless of gender or race, you should have the same opportunities.

"What mustn't happen in society is a society where people are not able to succeed because they come from the wrong side of the tracks. Sadly, the Tories' right wing politics, whatever its about, such as tax guarantees, are turning their back on issues which would achieve this sort of potential.

"Another high point was going to my first Parliamentary Labour Party meeting. I was extremely impressed by it.

"It was addressed by Clare Short who, without notes, demonstrated an extraordinary command of the issues of international development - projects in Africa, child poverty - but also demonstrated the need for tempering that with the development of sustainable economies.

"The Tory vision of Britain, retreating into isolationism where the barriers go up, is a mistake.

"I am happier now. It's not a decision I made overnight to cross the floor.

"I wasn't like some of those who have done it before who sat in several Parliament. I came to realise shortly after I was elected there were problems with William Hague.

"The difficult period was last year, although I'm not suggesting its easy now but I'm able to be in a party and talk about the issues that matter.

"It's now possible for me to talk about European issues without going from safe house to safe house.

"I can talk about major issues with the country has to grapple with. It's remarkably reassuring to be within a party where you can talk about racism and race hate crimes, which is a huge problem, and people are nervous about tackling the issues and are prepared to address the problem realistically.

"It's good to be in a political party where there is a genuine appreciation for people who work in the NHS, who work in schools, and readily identify with those people. It's very clear from the extra money the government is putting into those public services, it is a party that believes in the importance of providing public services.

"The work of the constituency doesn't change. I have to look after my constituents whatever happens. It's business as usual in that respect."

Low point of the week

"There have been no low points this week.

"In the months at the end of 1999, I would wake up depressed at the fact I was a shadow minister.

"Some people would regard that as a terrific achievement but what was important was the fact that the issues I'd come into public life to work for, sadly these played no part in the life of the Conservative Party and so I increasingly found I was going through the motions.

"I felt a huge sense of relief when I left the Conservative Party. It was a very difficult decision in the end but once I made the decision I wanted it to be a huge success after all the intrusion into my family's life, the life of my parents and my sister. But it was the right thing to do.

"It was not a careerist thing to do. The careerist thing to do would have been to stay in the Conservative Party, on the frontbench, and in what some people have foolishly regard as this rock solid seat. I've never regarded it as that.

"But I had to come to terms with what I felt about the right wing of the party and leave it.

"I have no idea what the future holds, I don't even contemplate that.

"Inevitably, people who are my friends understand what I did. With friends, the relationship goes on just as it did with friends in the Labour Party when I joined the Conservative Party.

"What is amazing is the way in which the Labour Party has embraced me and made it as comfortable and as easy as it realistically could be. But now I want to knuckle down to tackle the issues which are important to me."

Winner of the week and loser of the week

"It's been an odd week so I don't think there's been a particular winner or loser.

"I've never understood the Tories' obsession with Pinochet. I understand their argument over his help during the Falklands, but at the end of the day he is a president who oversaw one of the worst regimes during the 20th century. I couldn't condone it.

"For all the intellectual arguments in support of Pinochet, at the end of the day, I think, authoritarian dictators cannot preserve power at the expense of people and that cannot be tolerable and there should be no hiding place for them."

Issue of the week

"Undoubtedly, the issue this week has been the flu crisis. We've seen people who work in the NHS, doctors and nurses, coping under a great deal of pressure but nonetheless coping.

"It does take a great deal of time to train new doctors and nurses and for the money this government has spent to work its way into the system.

"A great deal of the NHS was run down during the Tory years.

"If one looks around Europe they have clearly been stretched beyond breaking point.

"It's a great tribute to the doctors and nurses and because of the extra money from the government that system has coped."

In the postbag

"I've not only had a lot of letters from constituents, I've also noticed I've had letters from a number of different strands of society.

"A large number of elderly people have been supportive. I think this resulted from my parents, in their mid 80s, speaking about their decision to join New Labour, worrying about the state of public services as a consequence of a party which when in power did not believe in society, only individuals.

"A large number of letters in the post have been from former Tories who share my misgivings and are supportive of my position.

"A lot of letters have also been from young people, who are understandingly idealistic and who have recognised a number of things they feel strongly about."

On the horizon

"There are six speeches I want to make in the next six months. They will cover young people and children, about drugs and bullying and child abuse.

"I also want to speak on racism and I look forward to the Race Relations Bill coming to the Commons.

"Thirdly, I'm looking forward to speaking on Europe and the enlargement of the European Union and its benefits to Britain.

"I'm also looking forward to addressing community and society, positive individualism and looking at emerging centre left political parties, comparing New Labour with new democrats."