Gloucester councillor joins Lib Dems after quitting Labour

Gloucester City Councillor Usman Bhaimia (centre) joining the Liberal Democrats

A councillor who defected from Labour over Sir Keir Starmer's comments on the Israel-Gaza conflict has rejoined the Liberal Democrats.

Gloucester City Councillor Usman Bhaimia joined the Liberal Democrats on 16 November.

Mr Bhaimia quit Labour last month after Sir Keir said that "Israel has the right" to withhold power and water from the Gaza strip.

"I am happy to rejoin the Liberal Democrat group," Mr Bhaimia said.

"They are doing a great job of constructive opposition on the council and are challenging the Conservatives effectively," he said.

"The Lib Dems are clearly going from strength to strength. I believe the community in Barton and Tredworth will benefit from my membership of the group."

Mr Bhaimia has been a councillor for 20 years.

He was first elected as a Liberal Democrat but switched to Labour during the years of the Cameron-Clegg coalition government.

Strongest opposition

Lib Dem group leader Jeremy Hilton said: "It's great to welcome Usman Bhaimia back as a member of the Liberal Democrat group. He is returning to his political home.

"We missed him during his time in the Labour group. Usman has always been a liberal at heart.

"We are now a group of 13 and clearly the strongest opposition to the Tories on the city council.

"Usman provides additional strength to our group, we are now a 'Bakers Dozen'."

The makeup of the council is now 22 Conservative councillors, 13 Liberal Democrats, two Community Independents and two Labour members.