Helen Clark

Former Peterborough MP Helen Clark has announced she is quitting Labour and seeking to join the Tories.

Having lost her seat to the Conservatives in the general election, she has resigned saying that she received no support from party headquarters.

She also said the modern Tory party would be more inclusive under a new leader, complaining that she was never "made to feel that I had anything to offer".

Despite being considered a loyal "Blair babe" as one of the 100 Labour women elected in 1997, Clark never attained ministerial office and began to earn a reputation as a troublemaker, making regular appearances in newspaper diary columns.

In a letter to the prime minister on Sunday she said: "During my eight years in parliament, I have become increasingly frustrated with the conduct of your Labour government.

"Your workload is obviously very great but I was disappointed by the fact that you seemed so remote from your own backbenchers.

"I was angry at the bullying tactics, sometimes physical, employed by government whips and that I was never made to feel that I had anything to offer."

Policy

She said Labour policies and the way they were made had cost her the Peterborough seat.

"I refuse to bear any responsibility for this. I can't help feeling we were completely cut adrift," Clark said.

"I have not been happy about the way policy is made and how policy forums and party conferences are stage managed.

"I have also been extremely disappointed that policy decisions appear to have been taken by a small group of friends with no input from backbenchers, the trade union movement and the wider voluntary party.

"This has lead to disastrous escapades such as the imposition of student top-up fees and the war in Iraq. Both of these issues were widely criticised on the doorstep."

Clark concluded : "It is very sad that in the space of eight years I have gone from being proud to be elected as a Labour MP to believing that a one nation Conservative Party under a new leader would serve the country better and be more inclusive."