Time to resign

The reward for that loyalty and hard work was that he was not given the courtesy of an interview for the Tory safe seat of Westmorland and Lonsdale.

He was unhappy about the way the Nolan Report was handled and became increasingly disquieted when the Scott Report was published. His decision to quit the Conservative Party earlier this year did not come as a surprise.

And so Mr Thurnham's decision to cross the floor of the Commons to join the Liberal Democrats is also understandable. Since he resigned the Tory Party whip in February he has been in political limbo as an Independent Conservative.

But the plain fact of the matter is that Peter Thurnham, however sincere he was, and is, did not have a mandate to represent the people of Bolton North-east as an Independent and certainly does not have that mandate as a Liberal Democrat.

By defecting to the Lib Dems, Mr Thurnham has ensured himself a place in the spotlight during the months leading up to the General Election.

It's a heady position to be in for an MP who has never risen higher than Parliamentary Private Secretary. But it is also a false position because he has not become one Westminster's movers and shakers through distinguished or exceptional service. He is interesting merely because of the timing of his defection and the opportunity it provides for more scorn to be heaped upon a beleaguered government.

Earlier this year, Mr Thurnham put great emphasis on a MORI poll he commissioned, which purported to show that Bolton North East electors would support him if he resigned the Tory Party Whip.

But we do not elect MPs by opinion polls which question a tiny minority of voters. Mr Thurnham cannot make any claim to be the chosen representative of Bolton North East as a Liberal Democrat.

He should resign as an MP now and allow the voters to decide who they want to represent them in Parliament.

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