Local Lib Dem defects to Labour

THE Liberal Democrat group in North East Lincolnshire has been rocked by yet another defection.

Councillor Annie Darby, who represents the Yarborough ward, has left the party to join Labour.

She becomes the fourth local councillor in four years to swap the yellow rosette for red, following in the footsteps of Jon-Paul Howarth, Cliff Barber and Ros James.

It means the Lib Dems, who ran the authority just over two years ago, have now been reduced to a mere three councillors – the same number as UKIP.

It also restores the ruling Labour group to 25 councillors, two months after the defection of South ward councillor Jane Bramley to UKIP.

Councillor Darby said: "As hard as I have tried, I have found the Coalition policies increasingly hard to stomach. I am particularly concerned about the NHS in which I have worked for nearly 25 years.

"I am thrilled to be part of the local and national Labour Party again, and look forward to tackling injustice and inequality in a pro-active and robust way."

Councillor Chris Shaw, leader of the Labour group, said: "We welcome Annie to the Labour Group. Her experience in the NHS will be a great asset to us, working alongside our other members with health experience."

Councillor Ray Sutton, chairman of the Grimsby Constituency Labour Party, said: "I'm delighted to welcome Annie to the Labour Party and look forward to working with her.

"Annie and I are both councillors living in Park ward and every time we pass the hospital we are reminded of the wasteful £4bn top-down reorganisation of the NHS by this government."

Councillor Andrew De Freitas, leader of the Liberal Democrat group, said he was "extremely disappointed", adding that Councillor Darby had yet to inform him directly of her resignation.

"I have always listened to Annie Darby and had a reasonable relationship with her. I have a lot of respect for the woman and I think it's quite sad that she couldn't have had a conversation with me."

Councillor De Freitas said she had given no hint that she had become disillusioned with the Lib Dems, but added: "The local elections are not too far away. sShe represents an area that has two Labour councillors, and maybe she thinks it will be better to jump ship."

He added that many Lib Dems felt "uncomfortable" about being in coalition with the Conservatives, but insisted it had been the only option, given the outcome of the last general election.

Councillor Darby insisted her decision was not a reflection on the local group or Councillor De Freitas, who she said she still had huge respect for.

She said she would be contacting him by e-mail shortly to explain her decision.