Dan Poulter torn apart by top Tory over 'betrayal' after Labour switch: 'Invisible Man!'

Dan Poulter defects from The Conservatives to Labour

Dan Poulter’s former Tory association chairman has torn into his decision to defect, while also slamming him as “invisible” during his time as a Conservative member of parliament.

Councillor Sam Murray told Times Radio that Mr Poulter had been “known as the Invisible Man in North Ipswich” following his shock announcement last night.

Mr Poulter, a former minister who helped George Osborne and David Cameron enact austerity on the NHS, accused his party of no longer prioritising the NHS, despite record levels of funding.

He also criticised his former party of moving away from the centre and becoming a “nationalist party of the right”. However his former local boss said Mr Poulter’s priorities “haven't been with Ipswich for quite some time”.

Mr Poulter has been slammed as 'invisible' by his former local Tory chairman (Image: BBC)

“It's been difficult to make excuses for him. When you commit to turning up to things, it would be nice if you actually turned up.

“It was becoming apparent there was a reluctance to work with us councillors in North Ipswich. And it was becoming quite obstructive.”

She also accused him “betrayal”, revealing local Conservative Party activists had been campaigning on his behalf when the news broke.

Ms Murray told Times Radio: “It was quite a shock. We had people out there in the morning, campaigning on his behalf, whilst he was doing his interview”.

“There was no appreciation for the toll that would take on the grassroots. This has come out of the blue for us.

“We have got some great councillors up for election in a few days time, who do not deserve this betrayal.

“He's spoken about not being able to look at colleagues in the eyes. I wish he had that compassion for my close friends who are standing for election.

“I can't understand how someone could not even speak to us after having a relationship with my colleagues for many years.”

This morning, shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting refused to rule out whether Mr Poulter was offered any reward for dealing his hammer blow to Mr Sunak.

Speaking to Laura Kuenssberg, Mr Streeting was asked: “Did Labour offer any future baubles to Dan Poulter to get him to defect?”

Dodging the question, Mr Streeting said the Suffolk MP “has been very clear he’s going back to the NHS full-time, he’s not standing for Parliament at the next election”.

“This idea that he’s just abandoning the sinking Conservative ship to save himself is nonsense.”

Dissatisfied with the answer, Ms Kuenssberg tried again: “Did Labour offer him anything in return for him coming across? Did you offer him a place in the House of Lords perhaps?”

The shadow Health Secretary replied with the non-denial denial: “Not that I’m aware of."