Ex-footballer Stan Collymore leaves Labour to join SNP after Syria airstrikes vote

Former footballer Stan Collymore now works as a broadcaster. Credit: PA

Former footballer Stan Collymore has joined the Scottish National Party in protest at 66 Labour MPs backing UK airstrikes on Islamic State targets in Syria after a Commons debate on Wednesday.

Collymore, who said he had only rejoined Labour "a couple of months ago", tweeted a screen grab of an email from SNP membership support thanking him for his payment.

All SNP MPs had voted against the motion.

He wrote: “Done. No more Tories infiltrating the grand old party of working people anymore. Time to change.”

After being criticised for the move, the 44-year-old added: "Troll me all you like. I’m sure you’ll all feel much safer in the next 5 years of terror alerts, homegrown radicalisation and tube bombs."

Earlier, in a tweet that has since been deleted, Collymore had posted a photo of his Labour membership card which appeared to have been cut-up.

Collymore had posted a photo of his Labour membership card which had been cut-up. Credit: Twitter/Stan Collymore