This week we can report three defections to the Liberal Democrats in key councils around the country.
The first is the decision by Cllr Brian Haley, the Labour Cabinet Member for the Environment in the London Borough of Haringey, to quit his post and join the Liberal Democrats. Haringey is a key council for the Liberal Democrats with Lynne Featherstone as one of the MPs in the area and with Labour holding a tiny overall majority on the council. To attract such a senior councillor is a real coup for the party in the area.
The second and third defections are the husband and wife team Keith and Diane Bennett who have left the Conservatives on Cannock Chase District Council and joined the Liberal Democrats. They are both chairs of council committees and will be a welcome addition to our growing council group. The Liberal Democrats are the largest party on the council and also hold the leadership.
Unfortunately, a defection has also taken place in the opposite direction with Cllr David Theobald of the London Borough of Sutton moving from the Liberal Democrats to the UK Independence Party (via a week spent as an Independent).
Thank you to Cllr Matt Davies, Cllr Tony Williams and David Boothroyd respectively, for the information.