On 15 January 2005, he defected to the Labour Party, stating that the Tories under Michael Howard had "incoherent" policies on public services, "dangerous" views on Europe, and had "wobbled" on the issue of Iraq. He had been on the liberal and pro-European wing of the Conservatives, one of the few of that Party's MPs who supported the reduction in the age of consent for gay men. He has been treasurer of the Conservative Mainstream association and supported Kenneth Clarke in the 2001 Leadership election.