Quentin Davies has articulated what has dawned on a growing number of the electorate. I must say it is disappionting that the Conservative Party response is to try and rubbish the character of Mr Davies - apparently once the Parliamentarian of the Year and also Backbencher of the Year. A lifelong Conservative voter I might well follow Mr Davies.

PAM, Maidenhead,

Quentin Davies ? Did I feel a political earthquake today ? Nope - but nice try, Quentin !

You were reviewing your career plan and decided to make one final dash for glory !


So what did you do ? Rush out to buy a new pin-striped suit and support Mr Pension Slayer and the rest of the masterminds of the Iraq war ! Leaving the Tories with one less suit in the House of Commons to worry about !!

Way to go,man !

The truth is out - Vote New Labour get Old Tories !!

dave l, Swindon, Wiltsthire

What an idiot!! Quenin has fundamentally ruined the trust between MP and constituency. How can we trust him. We have never been a labour area, and believe me we wont be for much longer

c robinson, stamford, lincs

Yet another MP without honour, if he truly believes what he says then he should resign and let the people he is suppose to represent choose another MP to replace him, crossing the floor is just an act of betrayal and cowardice.

vivian fay, valencia, spain

He blames Cameron for 'unreliability and an apparent lack of any clear convictions', and then he crosses the floor to Brown's old Labour! If he was a man of principle he would have gone to the Lib Dems, who actually have some things in common with his brand of Conservatism. I hope he loses his seat in the election.

James Waldron, London,

The only "honourable" thing to do is resign his seat and fight it again as a labour candidate. Oh sorry, forgot I was talking about an MP

Andy, Worthing, UK

Interesting that Davies flounced off just in time to receive a juicy governmental appointment.

Let's hope that Brown has the sense to give him something involving chauffeurs and champagne.

Bob, Liverpool, UK

Quentin Davies - SCAB. Many people in this constituency voted for a Conservative candidate.
During his campaign he was shouting Labour down for trying to close the Grantham Hospital. Now he has joined their ranks. I think it is only fair there is a by-election in his constituency so we can rid of the back-stabber.
"Politicians are like baby's nappies, and should be changed for the same reason. . "

Get labour out of, Grantham,

Westminster isn't a Palace, it is a trough. This creature will continue to slurp on taxpayers' money, oblivious to his constituents.

Tim C, Isle of Wight,

More should follow him across the floor of the house. What a pity the Liberal Democrats don't see fit to re-elect Charles Kennedy as I'm sure he would have the sense to co-operate with Big Gordon. Who cares who is in charge so long as he or she is kicking goals for Britain ....... and for those anywhere who can't, for whatever reason, stick up for themselves.

John, Dundee, UK

Good riddance. the man clearly lacks judgement and is a hypocrite.

Neil Murphy, cromer,

Hardly a swipe, his open letter appears to demonstrate a significant amount of respect for the man, despite whatever shortfalls may have occurred thus far in his time as Leader of the Opposition.

Of course, Labour really are 'up' on those "clear convictions", aren't they?

Matthew Jones, Newcastle-under-Lyme, United Kingdom

For very roughly the reasons he gives, I can't see myself voting conservative again, while Cameron is leader.

Alex, London, England

Well said Quentin Davies. The Conseratives will remain out in the cold with David Cameron as their leader.

M Norbury, Worcester, Worcestershire

What further evidence is needed that Cameron is just a pale imitation of the Tony Blair PR machine cum actor? Cameron certainly appears to be lacking in any philosophical or political hinterland, all the more so when compared to Gordon Brown rather than Blair himself. David Cameron is starting to look as promising as Hague, IDS and Howard...

Russell, London, UK

This is the beginning of the end for Dave. Hopefully Mr. Davies will be the first of many.

James, Manchester, UK

What an anaemic reponse from Mr. Cameron. The Tory ship is still sinking.

terryprattle, nottingham,

It was wrong to rat to the Labour, I think it would have been better to leave the party, become an indipendent and wait for better (eg cameron-less) times.
I do not agree with his ideas about the referendum.

But to go against Cameron can never be wrong, so three cheers for him!

Oracle of Knightsbridge, London,

O dear O dear O dear. The news gets worse for Cameron as another One Nation centrist Tory quits. The raft of 'real Tories" who defective to the Lib Dems was the story of the late 90s - not now. Where is the Tory party machine driving home the central message of what conservatism is about in today's world? I am dying to return to the fold to rid the UK of devious, cynical and power hungry New Labour. But, as commentators have said on this paper's pages, the Tories continue to have some death wish. Revival; what revival.

DC, London,

Hey, what about the constituents who voted for a Conservative candidate? They need a refund and Davies needs to be relieved of his seat. But then as the old rhyme goes:- Taffy is a Welshman Taffy is a ...................................

Mark, Whitstable, UK

I live in Stamford and think it is wrong that there is not going to be a by-election now. He should have the guts to face the public and not wait until the general election.

Tim, Stamford, UK

So Davies crosses the floor because of the superficiality and gimmickry of Conservative policies!?

Isn't he, then, jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire? Gimmickry and spin is the very definition of Nu-Labor; doe's he think no one will notice? He could have declined the whip and stood as an independent Conservative.

There's more to this than meets the eye.

Castro Spendlove, Great Malvern,

As a loyal Conservative for 40 years this realy makes me very sad. But I have to admit to being so unclear about what Cameron stands for. I also want to modernise the Party. We must occupy the centre ground, but we must do so with clear principles. I dont know what they are now under Cameron. Hugging huddies, huskies, cycling to parlement. I dont want this superficial stuff. I want strong principles that I believe in , modenised of course, but strong principles never-the-less. Is that too much to ask for of the modernised Conservative party .

james gallagher, London, UK

Will no one speak for this man!
There is only one common theme amongst the comments - the view that Davis was about right about Cameron's weaknesses and zero support for the Leader of the Opposition. The deafening silence regarding any defence of Cameron is very telling. The Party has made attacks on Davis, but no groundswell of support for their alleged leader.

James, London,

So was he ever a comitted conservative or just looking after himself, if you believe in something you stay and fight you dont run and try to find a soft spot with the oposition. I do not think his atttidude/ approach will fit with new labour apart from the fact they will use and abuse him until he gets kicked out by fellow conservatives as a traitor to his cause at the next election.

What a sorry end to a sorry man and I vote labour

Julian, Southampton,

Quentin Davies has made many good and valid points with reference to David Cameron and his 'leadership' and 'policies' of the Conservative party. Davies is obviously a man of principle. If only he would act on his principles and do the really honourable thing and that is not to defect to another political party and continue as aLabour MP, but instead resign as an MP and give the electorate who elected him as a Conservative MP the opportunity to have their say again. I'm sure that the voters who voted for him voted because he was a Conservative, not because he was him. Why should they now be lumbered with a labour MP when they voted for a Conservative MP.

Lynda Plum, London, england

So Dave's trendy new liberal conservatism is not for everyone .....a lot of traditional conservative voters feel exactly the same and might follow his example as there is no longer a right of centre party that cares about our British traditions or family values. So will it be the beginning of a mass exodus to Brown's new substance labour party? Is this the end of PR, spin and superficial politics? If so trendy Dave and his trendy liberal conservative supporters could be in trouble!

Simon Icke, Buckinghamshire, UK

This great statesman of the Tory party will be sorely missed within the ranks, I'm sure..............

Stuart Murray, Amsterdam, Netherlands

There is aparent talk... that if one wants to destroy Great Britain - then David Cameron is the man to vote for!! Quentin Davies has just proven this point!

John, Stevenage, UK

He's no great loss to the Conservatives. Given his pro-eu credentials, I'd have thought he might feel more at home in the Lib Dems. Obviously, Gordo has more potential favours and goodies to bestow than Ming. So there we are....Time for a by-election in Grantham I think..

Istanbul Tory, Istanbul, Turkey

Another Tory sees the light !!

Alec Depledge, BRIGG, N Lincolshire

The wheels are clearly coming off the glitzy and insubstantial Tory machine. No doubt Brown will be eyeing an early election even more keenly after this event - Labour landslide in October?

Paul, London,

Quentin Davies .. Do you really think you'll find a "bedrock of non-PR drive policies" with Nu-Labour... How sad....

T wadey, Brighton, UK

He says all that...and defects to New Labour? The man must be a complete lunatic.
Whenever did Blair show anything other than "superficiality, unreliability and an apparent lack of any clear convictions"? Do we seriously expect Brown to be any different? Far from being a disaster for Cameron this is probably excellent news - Quentin Davies is bound to lose his seat at the next election and he can be replaced by somebody with a mind, soul and common sense.

Dave, Slough,

Splendid news. I look forward to Ken Clarke joining him.

Gordon Stewart, London,

I'm afraid that I have to agree with most of what he says. Not sufficiently so to change to the Labour party though.

Richard, Alicnate, Spain

Michael Portillo was correct on thinking the Tory Party could destruct.Davies is spot on,Cameron has no direction especially on Europe and tries to hide behind the spin and PR.At last he is being found out.

Bill Rees, Truro, Cornwall

I cannot decide if he is "Disgusted of Tunbridge Wells' or John Prescott Mk 2. I suspect he is not certain who he is either.

Jonathan Mills, Brighton,

Wow a man of honour in the Tory party!!!! oh no, sorry, he is in the Labour party, it all makes sense now. Well done Quentin Davies.

Gary Gatter, London,