A Labour councillor from Haverstock ward defected to the Camden Liberal Democrats today (Friday) dismissing his old party as rude, arrogant, and out of touch with local people . Cllr Syed Hoque, Labour s spokesman on adult social care, who was elected tw

A Labour councillor from Haverstock ward defected to the Camden Liberal Democrats today (Friday) dismissing his old party as "rude, arrogant, and out of touch with local people".

Cllr Syed Hoque, Labour's spokesman on adult social care, who was elected two years ago made the move this morning joining his new colleagues, who are in a ruling coalition with the conservatives.

He is now the 24th Liberal Democrat councillor in the borough and is being welcomed as another step towards the party taking the council for themselves at the next election.

Cllr Hoque said: Here in Camden, I have seen how the hard work of the Liberal Democrats is really helping local people. My ward colleagues Jill Fraser and Matt Sanders work hard all year around making a real effort to listen to residents and do what they can to help. By contrast, many of those running Camden's Labour party are rude, arrogant, and out of touch with local people.

I feel thoroughly let down by Labour, and I know that many others in Camden feel the same. I can best serve people in Haverstock by joining the strong local Liberal Democrat team."

Mr Hoque also said the actions of the national party had turned him off Labour particularly Iraq and their lack of action on Israel's invasion of Gaza.

Haverstock ward will now have three Liberal Democrat representatives.

Camden Liberal Democrats and council leader, Cllr Keith Moffitt said:

"I'm delighted to welcome Cllr Hoque to Camden's fastest growing party. Syed is a well respected leader of his community and his passionate and principled views make him a natural Liberal Democrat."

Labour spokesman Theo Blackwell criticised Cllr Hoque who has been a vocal critic of the Liberal Democrats in the past and said he had been swayed by reasons unrelated to Camden.

“Only weeks ago Sayed was complaining about the �1million cuts to social care, so I’m surprised that he's joining a party he criticised so public just weeks ago in the Ham&High.

“The Lib Dems have been hard at work misrepresenting government policy on Gaza and Israel in the muslim community, sadly Sayed seems to have fallen for it.”