Michael Howard has played down the significance of MP Robert Jackson's defection to the Labour Party.

The Conservative leader said on Sunday that "these things happen" and attempted to refocus his troops on the coming general election campaign.

Jackson quit on Saturday night claiming that a Howard government would "damage" Britain because of policies such as the Tories' opposition to university fees and desire to renegotiate UK membership of the EU.

Acknowledging his "disagreements" with Wantage MP Jackson, a former education minister who is set to stand down when the poll is called, the Conservative chief said he was not surprised by the decision.

"These things happen from time to time in politics," he told the BBC's Breakfast with Frost programme.

"Not very long ago we had a Labour member of the European parliament who came over to us.

"But there are disagreements between Robert Jackson and me. He wants tuition fees and top-up fees, which I think would leave students with too much debt.

"He thinks I was wrong to criticise Mr Blair about Iraq, but I think it was important for Mr Blair to tell the truth and he didn't.

"And Robert Jackson thinks we should join the euro and give up more powers to Brussels, and I don't want to join the euro and I think we should bring back powers from Brussels and decide things for ourselves in this country."

Election

Howard insisted the defection would not detract from the election campaign, which he claimed the Tories are fighting to win, despite a consistently poor poll position.

"Let's be realistic the election is not going to be decided on the basis of what Robert Jackson did," he said.

"We are fighting to win the election, let me make that absolutely clear, and I am convinced that we can win the election," he added.

"I think people want to change course, they want an alternative to a government that is out of touch."

But former frontbencher John Bercow said the move by Jackson was damaging, although it would not "ruin" the campaign.

"It is a great pity he has decided to join the Labour Party; it is certainly a wounding blow for us," he told GMTV's Sunday Programme.

"We have got to get back on our feet and set out what we intend to do," he added.