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Manchester councillor defects from Lib Dems

03/01/2008

A Manchester councillor has switched his political allegiance from the Liberal Democrats to the Conservative Party, it has been revealed.

There has not been a member of Tory member on Manchester's council at any point during the past ten years and Faraz Bhatti suggested that his decision to join the party was motivated by a desire to provide more effective opposition to the dominant Labour representatives.

Conservative leader David Cameron welcomed Mr Bhatti's defection, claiming his actions demonstrated that his party has become the "true home of progressive politics" in the UK.

"David Cameron has brought the Conservative Party back to the centre ground of British politics," said Mr Bhutto.

"Like me, he believes in spreading opportunity and giving people a real say over their own lives," he added.

Mr Cameron was in Manchester this week, making a speech on the future of the NHS at Trafford General Hospital, which was the first in the country to be nationalised almost 60 years ago.