A top Tory MP defected to Labour today, in a stinging blow to Rishi Sunak on the eve of the local elections.
Former health minister Dan Poulter quit with a savage broadside against the Conservatives, which he said had become a "nationalist party of the right", and no longer valued the NHS.
"I found it increasingly difficult to look my NHS colleagues in the eye, my patients in the eye, and my constituents in the eye with good conscience," he told the BBC, revealing his defection.
"I feel the NHS deserves better than it has at the moment in terms of how it's run and governed."
Labour leader Keir Starmer said Dr Poulter crossing the floor was evidence his party had changed.
"My Party is back in the service of working people," he said.
"Our mission is to grow the economy and rebuild our public services. I'm delighted that Dan will be helping us get the NHS back on its feet."
He added: "Across the country more and more people are switching to Labour because they know only this changed Labour Party can deliver the change Britain needs.
"It's time to end the Conservative chaos, turn the page and get Britain's future back. I'm delighted that Dan has decided to join us on this journey."
Dr Poulter told the Observer: "The Conservative Party's values have changed over the past eight years. The values of the Conservative party under David Cameron were different values and the priorities were very different. David Cameron undoubtedly had a very strong commitment to the NHS."
He added: "It feels to me that the Tory party has gone from being a pragmatic, centrist, centre-right party which focused on and understood the importance of public service and the state to deliver certain things …and had a compassionate outlook on key issues. It has gone from that and feels like it has become a nationalist party of the right, much more of what we see in Europe."
Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting said he was "proud" to welcome Dr Poulter to the party.
He tweeted: "As a frontline clinician, he's seen the damage that 14 years of Conservative government have done to our NHS.
"Delighted to have his support and look forward to working with him, especially on mental health reform."