MP John Woodcock, who last week quit the Labour Party claiming that he had no faith in a proper result of the party’s investigation into ‘sex pest’ allegations against him, has today told ITV’s Daniel Hewitt that he wants other MPs – including Conservatives – to join him to challenge ‘the broken two-party system’. Clearly he doesn’t feel the LibDem or SNP parties count, so it’s interesting that he feels he can be part of something that can.
Expectation that a number of right-wing Labour MPs will try to form a new party has been strengthening in recent weeks and LibDem leader Vince Cable has said that he wants his party to be ‘at the centre’ of any new venture.
But has Woodcock also been investigating other avenues?
But today sources close to the Cumbrian MP claim that Woodcock has been having ‘regular one-on-ones’ with Theresa May since around the time of the PM’s ‘surprise visit‘ to Ulverston in Woodcock’s constituency in April.
The SKWAWKBOX contacted Woodcock’s constituency and parliamentary offices to enquire about the reasons for the meetings. Neither denied that meetings had taken place but the parliamentary office promised – and failed – to come back with a comment before the close of business.
The SKWAWKBOX contacted Mr Woodcock directly this evening to ask him for comment. His only response was:
I’m sorry, I can’t talk to you now. Or ever.
before ending the call.
A Downing Street spokesman asked for details of the source of the information, which were of course not disclosed, before eventually calling back to deny that meetings took place.
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