Veteran labour MP defects to Lib Dems

Veteran Labour MP Brian Sedgemore has announced his defection to the Liberal Democrats.

Mr Sedgemore, who was Labour’s MP for Luton West from 1974 – 1979 and for Hackney South & Shoreditch from 1983, described New Labour as “dead” and urged voters to give Prime Minister Tony Blair “a bloody nose” at the election by voting for the Liberal Democrats.

Mr Blair told reporters at Labour’s morning press conference that issues should be at the heart of the election, not the actions of one individual. Mr Sedgemore will be standing down as an MP at the next election on May 5.

Announcing his decision to join the Liberal Democrats, Mr Sedgemore said: “What about the principles, ideas, ideals and values which will determine the result of the election in Britain? If being British does not entail a longing for liberty, then having such an identity is worthless. If a political party does not yearn for freedom based on the rule of law, habeas corpus and due process, then there is no point in either being a member or in voting for it.

“It is against this background that I have finally decided I could no longer support the Labour government and will join the Liberal Democrats to work for a nobler vision of Britain.”

Commenting on Mr Sedgemore’s decision, Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy said that the veteran Labour MP had voted with the Liberal Democrats on a number of issues, including the Iraq war, foundation hospital, university top-up fees and the recent anti-terrorism laws, incorporating the controversial control orders. Mr Kennedy said: “It is therefore not surprising that he finds himself at this election in greater sympathy with Liberal Democrat policies rather than those of Tony Blair’s Labour party.

“Brian Sedgemore’s message for other people who are considering voting Labour but who are unhappy with the party’s policies on Iraq, tuition fees and civil liberties is clear. At this election, the only party which has taken principled stands on these issues is the Liberal Democrats.”

Mr Sedgemore appeared to hint that other Labour MPs were dissatisfied with ‘New Labour’, saying: “All the deeply illiberal measures passed by the government were ferociously and heroically opposed by a number of backbench MPs, myself included, as well as by the Liberal Democrats collectively.”

Mr Sedgemore also said that the Conservatives had “no chance” of winning the election and said: “The bogeyman Howard argument is very much an aunt sally, easily put up and even more easily knocked down.”

Labour has repeatedly insisted that a vote for the Liberal Democrats would allow the Conservatives to enter government ‘through the back door’. Yesterday, Alan Milburn, the party’s election co-ordinator said: “If you vote Tory you get Michael Howard. If you vote Liberal Democrat you are in danger of getting Michael Howard. And if you don't vote at all you are in danger of getting Michael Howard.”

However, Charles Kennedy said that voters should “follow their beliefs and vote Liberal Democrat – certain in the knowledge that however they vote, Michael Howard’s Conservatives cannot win this election.”

(KMcA/SP)