Labour Councillor defects to the Liberal Democrats in Birmingham

9.02.37am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 24th Apr 2006

Labour Councillor defects to the Liberal Democrats in Birmingham

Labour Councillor Ann Holtom has today left the Labour party to join the Liberal Democrats. Councillor Holtom who represents the Tyburn Ward will take the number of Councillors on the City Council's Liberal Democrats group to 33, up from 28 just ten months ago making it the growing party in Birmingham!

Councillor Holtom said "I have become very disillusioned with the Labour Party knowing the way they have continually ignored their Local Party activists by imposing their own candidate in Tyburn Ward, not once but twice. I see the Liberal Democrats as the only party who are meeting the aspirations of Birmingham people".

"I know I will feel at home with the Lib Dems who are working to improve services in Birmingham and take the City forward" added Councillor Holtom.

Councillor Holtom is the third Councillor to join the Liberal Democrats within the last month. Councillor Shaukat Ali Khan and Councillor Mohammed Saeed disbanded the Peoples Justice Party to join the Liberal Democrats.

The Liberal Democrats are expected to make many more gains in the Local Elections on May 4th. Liberal Democrat Group Leader Councillor Paul Tilsley said "In the middle of the local election campaign this is catastrophic and damming news for Labour. Ann has sent a clear message to voters, leave Labour and back the Liberal Democrats".