British Indian Labour Councillor defects to Tories citing transparency concerns

A British Indian Councillor from Leicester, Deepak Bajaj, has resigned from the Labour Party, which he says is “detached from the lives of ordinary working people”, and joined the Conservative Party.

In a resignation letter which he posted on Twitter this week, the Councillor in the Evington ward of Leicester East said the Opposition Labour is no longer a “transparent or democratic organisation”, at least locally, and therefore does not align with his values and principles.

He writes: “Over an extended period of time the Labour party and its values in Leicester has changed.

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“These values are now affecting the lives of those living in my ward, Evington. I can no longer go on knowing I am not doing the best for those who voted me in. Over the years, I have witnessed and received evidence of countless examples of bullying, dictatorship, and appalling behaviour within the party which cannot stand by. The people of Leicester deserve better.”

Bajaj, who has served for 16 years as an elected member at Leicester City Council, appealed to his supporters as he pledged to carry on working for the people who elected him. He was elected as a councillor in 2007, representing the Evington ward for 14 years and during that time has sat on various council committees, including audit finance, children services, neighbourhood, heritage, leisure, health, adult social care and the fire authority.

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The Chair of the Conservatives in Leicester, Richard Tutt, welcomed Bajaj as an “excellent addition” to their team.

“He is not just a pragmatic politician but he is also a hard worker and a fantastic campaigner, I am proud to have him on board,” he said.

Leicester City Council is yet to comment on the development.