Political defection: Your reaction?

Labour MP Paul Marsden has quit the Labour Party and joined the Liberal Democrats, Lib Dem leader Charles Kennedy has confirmed.

Mr Marsden, MP for Shrewsbury and Atcham, has been at the centre of rows with Labour over his opposition to the war in Afghanistan.

He said: "This has been a tough decision. I'm sick and tired of giving the government the benefit of the doubt."

He added: "I want to belong to a party which encourages debate and practises genuine internal democracy. Tony Blair is behaving in an increasingly arrogant and presidential manner. His party believes in threats and intimidation to crush internal dissent."

Is this a blow to the government's position in the House of Commons? Do you agree with Mr Marsden's criticisms of the government? Will the Liberal Democrats benefit from the move?

This debate is now closed. Read a selection of your comments below.

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Your reaction

Good for Paul

Ian Thomas, England

Good for Paul, he is standing by his principles and not just towing the party line. I may not agree with his views but I defend his right to have them.
Ian Thomas, England

New Labour - New Tory party
Tony Blair and Gordon Brown - New Margaret Thatchers.
Sven, UK

Mr Marsden has made his point and stepped back from the Labour Party. In my opinion he should now take his case to his constituents and ask for their support of him as a Liberal. Otherwise despite his moral high ground he will be in Parliament under false credentials (i.e. a hypocrite).
EGW, Hong Kong

All politicians are opportunist

Gregory White, UK

All politicians are opportunist. It's the name of the game. If you don't take such opportunities you'll never make it anywhere. So, Mr Marsden is a turncoat. Big deal. At least he speaks up for internal party democracy and proper public services.
Gregory White, UK

Paul Marsden was more than happy to stand on the Government record just a few months ago so why the change of heart? Given Charles Kennedy's control freak attitude to dissent in the Liberal Party over the War on Terror I think he's made a silly mistake. Even some Liberals don't seem to want him, fed up with being the dustbin party I suppose?
Phil, UK

I suspect that there's quite a few things Marsden prefers not to mention, but defections are usually a sign that something is wrong with the departed from the party.
RAH, UK

Good man for sticking up for democracy? Childish - a hero more like!
Kate Smurthwaite, Japan (British Citizen)

It is refreshing to see an MP who is willing to put strongly held beliefs above partisan considerations

Edwin Thornber, Britain

It is refreshing to see an MP who is willing to put strongly held beliefs above partisan considerations. Blair's party no longer want their MP's to think about what they are doing - just follow the other lobby sheep through the correct gate on the way out.
New Labour have reduced Parliamentary scrutiny of legislation to little more than a formality in the Lower House. Legislative scrutiny is now limited to the Upper House.
New Labour have shown themselves to be thoroughly dangerous to democracy and sadly lacking in sensible, detailed ideas for reforms.
Edwin Thornber, Britain

I think some of the contributors here need a reality check as Marsden is nothing more than a shallow political opportunist. He claimed when grilled by Jeremy Paxman that he was not convinced that Labour offered the best alternative for Britain back in June and yet he still stood as a candidate and gladly accepted the help of The Labour Party and its members who strove to get him elected.
When pressed on this point, Marsden came up with the predictable retort that the voters of Shrewsbury and Atcham had voted for him rather than for Labour - I think it's his lack of integrity that is under the spotlight here and to be quite honest, the posturers in the Liberal Democrats are welcome to him.
Robert Crosby, UK

Shouldn't there be an automatic by-election in these cases? Most voters vote for the party, not for the candidate.
Anthony, UK

To: Michael Entill. He didn't 'run away' because others had different views. he defected because other labour parties members would not allow HIM his views.
Mike Warren, UK

Good for Paul Marsden

Greg, UK

Good for Paul Marsden. He comes across as a thoughtful and courageous politician who has realised that New Labour is built on little more than spin and bullying. I believe a lot of other people who have, in Marsden's words, "been giving Labour the benefit of the doubt" on issues like public services, sleaze and freedom of speech will follow suit in switching to the Lib Dems. It would be healthier for this country's democracy and all of us for there to be an effective opposition to New Labour and the Lib Dems look like becoming that
Greg, UK

I think Paul Marsden came up against what we all see happening in local councils right across the UK. Just read your local papers. A group line is determined and that's it - forget independent scrutiny or doubts of conscience. Perhaps that's why so many councillors have already joined the Lib Dems - in Hackney, Camden, Stockport and anywhere else you care to mention.
Martin P, UK

I am sure he will be made very welcome in a party that continues to see members as individuals with a right to their own opinions - not mere voting fodder.
Peter Balcombe, UK

As one of Paul Marsden's constituents, I am proud to see that there is still a glimmer of hope for honest politics and standing up for what you believe in.
Rob, UK

Never in a thousand years would I vote for such a petulant and childish politician

Michael Entill, UK

Paul Marsden is a whiner who has run away when he found his views were not shared by the majority of the Labour Party. Never in a thousand years would I vote for such a petulant and childish politician. Good riddance to him.
Michael Entill, UK

Makes an interesting change to see a politician scramble out of the fire and into the frying pan.
Chris B, England

This party defection only works if the defector can take the majority of his votes with him - otherwise it's just removing himself from a position where he had some hope of making a difference.
Bernard, UK

He speaks his mind, isn't occupied in spin and takes action on his beliefs

Yung Han, UK

The Labour Party has lost exactly the sort of politician people should admire. He speaks his mind, isn't occupied in spin (which is obvious from his standpoints) and he takes action on his beliefs. The complete opposite to Tony Blair. The Lib Dems have just got themselves an excellent addition to their party.
Yung Han, UK

Whilst the rest of New Labour have a total disregard for our Parliamentary democracy, it is nice to see at least one Labour MP has the courage to stand up for what he believes in, question the government's policy, and refuse to be browbeaten by Tony's thought police. It is indicative that such an MP with political convictions has to join the Lib Dems.
Mac, UK

By all accounts, the treatment of Paul Marsden is a stunning example of the depths to which the New Labour fascists will stoop to try and intimidate people. They have revealed themselves as nothing more than Nazi thugs.
AMS, UK

Paul Marsden has done us all a favour by showing us how corrupt the Blair dictatorship has become. I will not be forgetting this next time I go to vote, no matter how much the Blair regime tries to convince me through its self-glorifying propaganda machine.
James, UK