Stockport councillor Laura Booth reveals she’s joined the Lib Dems after she was due to stand as Labour’s parliamentary candidate for Hazel Grove but quit the party over ‘bullying’ claims
An independent councillor at the centre of a General Election campaign row has joined the Lib Dems.
Stockport councillor Laura Booth was due to stand as Labour’s parliamentary candidate for Hazel Grove but quit the party over ‘bullying’ claims last year.
Local members vehemently deny the accusations and say Coun Booth has failed to produce any evidence to back up the claims.
Coun Booth, who has sat as an independent in Stockport since leaving Labour, is now supporting Lib Dem general election candidate Lisa Smart.
As the M.E.N. revealed last week, Labour has accused the Lib Dems of ‘dirty tactics’ after an email from Coun Booth was circulated by the party to voters.
Members, including election candidate Michael Taylor, blasted her for ‘misleading’ residents, claiming her email deliberately ‘confuses’ voters into thinking a Labour councillor was backing a Lib Dem – and that the party has given up in Hazel Grove.
Mr Taylor said Coun Booth was a ‘Lib Dem in all but name’.
The Lib Dems have now revealed she has joined their party.
Coun Booth said: “Having worked closely with many local Lib Dem councillors, I have found them to be honest, hard-working people, who strive to get the best for local residents.
“I think Stockport is best placed in Lib Dem hands and therefore I feel happy to be joining them and also continuing to support Lisa Smart to become the MP for Hazel Grove.”
Ms Smart said: “I’m delighted to welcome Laura Booth to the Lib Dems.
“She is a very hardworking local councillor and is a great addition to the team.
“Everyone knows that in the Hazel Grove constituency, it is a clear fight between the Lib Dems and the Conservatives.
“More and more former Labour voters are telling me that they are voting Lib Dem this time as they know it’s the only way to stop the Conservatives in our area.”
Mr Taylor insists Labour has a chance of snatching the seat and denied former Labour supporters were being wooed by Ms Smart.
He said: “Around 40pc of the Lid Dem’s support is coming over to Labour, according to a recent YouGov poll.
“Coun Booth needs to be careful of traffic coming in the other direction.
“The Lib Dems are hemorrhaging support. This is the last desperate measure of a campaign in meltdown.”
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