Bootle Labour councillor joins Lib Dems

1.45.43pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 26th May 2009

Labour councillor Paul Larkin has joined the Lib Dems

A Labour councillor in Sefton has defected to the Liberal Democrats.

The Liverpool Daily Post have reported that Cllr Paul Larkin of Derby Ward, Bootle, has left the Labour Party and joined the Liberal Democrats. Cllr Larkin says that Sefton's Labour leadership is 'deaf' to the concerns of voters.

In a statement carried by the Daily Post, Cllr Larkin said: "The local leadership of the Labour Party has failed to listen to the community concerns with regard to poor quality housing and the lack of regeneration across Derby ward and although I have tried for five years to get the local Labour Party to listen to the community's concerns, they continue to tell the community to 'struggle on'.

"I believe this community cannot struggle on any more. While people are living in fear of leaving their children to play in the streets and the elderly are prisoners at night in their homes, the Labour party refuse to listen."

Councillor Paul Larkin was also election agent to Crosby's MP, Claire Curtis-Thomas, at the last general election.

The composition of Sefton Council is now Lib Dem 28, Lab 21, Con 17 - leaving the Liberal Democrats just six seats short of an overall majority on the Council.