More Labour councillors ready to defect, Tory leader claims (From Your Local Guardian)

More Labour councillors ready to defect, Tory leader claims

1:56pm Tuesday 18th March 2008 in

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The leader of Croydon Council claims there are more Labour councillors ready to ditch their political allegiances to join his group after a town hall switch this week.

In what was being called "snatch of the day" by some, Labour councillor Mike Mogul moved from the red benches to the blue at the weekend.

His former group leader Councillor Tony Newman claimed he had sacked Coun Mogul but his new group boss, Councillor Mike Fisher said his man had resigned first.

Coun Mogul, a West Thornton ward member, said he joined the Conservatives after becoming disillusioned with the Labour leadership.

“I want to work with professional people who care about Croydon.”

Councillor Mike Mogul

He told the Croydon Guardian the final straw came after a planning meeting when he was blasted with an expletive ridden rant by a former colleague who was angry he had left the meeting at the request of Coun Newman and forfeited a vote on an important planning application.

His beaming new counterparts could barely contain their glee as he was unveiled at a press conference at the town hall yesterday.

Coun Mogul said it had been a hard decision to leave the Labour Party after 40 years but he was looking forward to working with Coun Fisher.

Coun Mogul said: "I want to work with professional people who care about Croydon."

Coun Fisher said: "I am very pleased that Mike Mogul has had the courage to stand up for what he believes is right.

"There are more in the Labour group who are unhappy with the leadership and I expect there are some who could join our group in the future."

But Labour leader Tony Newman said: "The Labour Party has taken this action after receiving information that Councillor Mogul has been meeting in secret with the Conservatives and working with them to undermine hard working Labour councillors."