Labour councillor Greta Sohoye made a dramatic defection to Croydon’s Conservative party last night, during a fiery meeting at the Town Hall.

She claimed local Labour leader Tony Newman had marginalised and ignored ethnic minority councillors, adding a recent speech made by Conservative cabinet member Gavin Barwell had made up her mind to cross the floor.

The Bensham Manor ward councillor is the second Labour member to defect to the Tories since March 2008, when Thornton Heath councillor Mike Mogul switched sides in what was dubbed “snatch of the day”.

Both councillors represent strong Labour wards in the party’s heartland in the north of the borough, and the latest switch will be a blow for the group ahead of next year’s local and general elections.

Coun Sohoye said: “I have for some time been considering my position in the Labour group.

“I recently attended the Community Cohesion conference at Fairfield Halls and was very impressed with what the Conservatives were doing for minority communities in Croydon.

“After listening to Gavin Barwell’s speech and(sic) I thought ‘those are my views too’.”

Coun Newman said: "Croydon Labour Group is proud that our frontbench represents all communities across Croydon, in stark contrast to the nine white men and one woman who make up the Conservative frontbench.

"Councillor Sohoye has let herself down badly with her factually incorrect and ill-judged comments.

"She should apologise immediately and then having already been deselected by her Ward stand down and let the electorate decide whether she is fit to continue as a councillor."