I knew Robert was deeply unhappy with the rightward drift of the Conservatives. Contrary to popular perception politicians of different Parties do talk to each other and some are friends. I knew Robert because of his close interest in Germany, which I share, and because we were both very critical of the BBC over the David Kelly affair. He was Dr Kelly�s MP.
I knew that he was worried about the growing anti-Europeanism of the Tories. As a former higher education Minister, Robert was also furious at what he saw as Michael Howard�s opportunism in opposing Labour�s funding reforms. He believed Tory policies would starve the universities of the investment they desperately need.
In spite of all of this I was still surprised, though, of course, delighted, he came over to Labour. Robert had already decided to stand down at the next election. His wife, Caroline, is one of the South West�s Conservative Members of the European Parliament. She, apparently, is staying in the Tory Party. That must make discussions in the Jackson household interesting!
But the main reason for my surprise is that it is much more difficult to change parties than is commonly supposed.
Robert will have ruined long standing political friendships. Many of his former colleagues in the Tory Party and the Tory press have heaped vitriol on him. Some have accused him of base motives for the defection without providing a shred of evidence. Meanwhile, some of his new colleagues in the Labour Party, will treat him with suspicion. Tribalism still flows strongly in the bloodstream of British politics.
The history of political defections is not a happy one. Those who cross the floor of the House have rarely thrived. That would suggest such decisions are not taken lightly, but, as with Robert Jackson, after a great deal of soul searching and considerable anguish.
