A trio of defections

The latest defector and Baroness Thatcher in happier times

To lose one high-profile Conservative to Labour ranks in the course of a Parliament is unfortunate, to lose two looks like carelessness, to lose three should surely give William Hague cause for concern.

Ivan Massow is the third high-profile Tory to "cross the floor" in as many years, claiming, like those who preceded him, that the party has shifted too far to the right.

But Mr Massow's defection is arguably the least significant of the three.

It's not me who left my party, my party left me

Shaun Woodward

The openly gay millionaire may be an intriguing character, but was not a high-profile figure in the party.

Significant defections

Just an outsider in the race for the Tory nomination for London mayor, Mr Massow was not even on the list of approved candidates to fight Westminster seats at the next election.

Peter Temple-Morris' defection in 1998 may not have been surprising - the fanatical pro-European had been threatening the move for some time and had already lost the Tory whip - but unlike Mr Massow he was a long serving party member and senior MP.

By far the most crushing blow to William Hague was MP Shaun Woodward's defection last December.

The Conservative Party is simply not the party I joined

Peter Temple-Morris MP

A member of the frontbench team and former campaign guru, he was the kind of high-profile, moderate Tory Mr Hague needed to keep on board, in his attempts to forge "compassionate Conservatism".

His reasons for leaving the party chime with those cited by the latest defector Mr Massow.

'Prejudice and intolerance'

The catalyst was his party's resistance to the repeal of Section 28, the law preventing the promotion of homosexuality by local authorities.

It "perpetuated prejudice and intolerance", he said.

Shaun Woodward was the last to defect to Labour ranks

In his letter to The Independent, Mr Massow said the latest row over Section 28 which spilt over into last week's prime minister's questions had affected his decision too.

"William Hague stood up blatantly for prejudice and ignorance.

"I watched as Tony Blair spoke bravely of tolerance and condemned that prejudice for what it was," he said.

'My party left me'

Another thing that unites all three defectors is the description of being paralysed in a party that no longer stands for anything they do.

The sad truth is that the Tories have become less compassionate, more intolerant and frankly just plain nasty

Ivan Massow

In a memorable phrase, Mr Woodward explained: "It's not me who left my party, my party left me."

Mr Massow agreed, saying: "The sad truth is that the Tories have become less compassionate, more intolerant and frankly just plain nasty."

So did Peter Temple-Morris.

"The Conservative Party is simply not the party I joined.

"It has changed for the worse in the past few years and got even worse since the election," he said.

William Hague may try to console himself that bad luck comes in threes, but with a trio of defectors criticising his party's failings with one voice, some think he might be well-advised to heed their concerns.