Camden Liberal Democrats welcome Cllr Syed Hoque

9.39.19am GMT Fri 6th Feb 2009

Local Councillors Jill Fraser & Matt Sanders have welcomed Syed to the Lib Dem team

Local Liberal Democrats have extended a warm welcome to Cllr Syed Hoque after the Haverstock councillor announced his resignation from the Labour party.

Cllr Hoque, who was Labour's frontbench spokesman on adult social care, will join the Liberal Democrats to become the party's 24th councillor in Camden.

The news is a further boost for local Liberal Democrats following recent by-election victories over Labour in Kentish Town and the Conservatives in Hampstead. Since the last borough elections in 2006 the Liberal Democrats have continued to surge forward, gaining a further four councillors. Meanwhile Labour have lost three councillors and the Conservatives have lost two.

The Liberal Democrats are now another step closer to taking full control of Camden Council in 2010, and are the only real opposition to Labour in Camden's two parliamentary seats.

Cllr Keith Moffitt, Leader of Camden Liberal Democrats, said:

"I'm delighted to welcome Cllr Hoque to Camden's fastest growing party. Syed is a well respected leader of his community and his passionate and principled views make him a natural Liberal Democrat.

"Over the next few years all our work will be focused on helping Camden residents through tough times. Camden Liberal Democrats are determined to keep down council tax while defending vital services for the most vulnerable. It's great to have Cllr Hoque's support for this important work."

Cllr Jill Fraser, Liberal Democrat Councillor for Haverstock ward, said:

"I have known Syed and his family for many years and am delighted that he will be joining Matt Sanders and me in fighting for the best for our area. Syed has proved himself to be a hard working and committed local Councillor and will make a great addition to our local team."

Jo Shaw, Parliamentary Campaigner for Holborn St. Pancras, said:

"Councillor Hoque is by no means the only former Labour supporter in Camden to be feeling let down and disillusioned by a party that seems to have forgotten about ordinary people. Many people have felt taken for granted by Labour for years.

"Labour are at rock bottom and losing support every day. Fortunately, all those who believe in an ethical foreign policy, defending our civil liberties, and protecting those on the lowest incomes will find a natural home with the Liberal Democrats.

"Everyone knows that only the local Liberal Democrats can challenge Gordon Brown's Labour party here in Camden. The Tories are in a poor third place."

Councillor Syed Hoque has been Labour Councillor for Camden Council's Haverstock ward since 2006.

Haverstock now has three Liberal Democrat Councillors for the first time in the ward's history. Cllr Hoque joins Cllrs Jill Fraser and Matt Sanders, who won seats from Labour in by-elections in February 2003 and July 2007 respectively.

Councillor Syed Hoque's full resignation statement reads:

The Labour party I joined nearly 20 years ago has changed beyond recognition. I am therefore today resigning my Labour membership and joining the Liberal Democrats.

Labour's foreign policies have been a disaster. The decision to support George Bush's illegal invasion and occupation of Iraq, with false pretences of weapons of mass destruction, has ruined an independent country and killed hundreds and thousands of innocent civilians. This was an astonishing act of aggression, resulting in humanitarian catastrophe and unsettling an entire region.

Like many others in Camden, I have been deeply upset by the recent invasion of Gaza. Instead of using their influence to bring the fighting to a halt, Gordon Brown and David Miliband have remained silent. Worse still, by refusing to halt Britain's arms exports to Israel, the British Labour government is fanning the flames of a war which has led to the death of thousands of innocent men, women and children.

When I joined the Labour party I never expected to be propping up a government that openly advocates war and aggression. I have been impressed by the principled stance of the Liberal Democrats on these important issues. Like the Liberal Democrats, I believe that diplomacy and negotiation are stronger weapons than guns and fighting.

Here in Camden, I have seen how the hard work of the Liberal Democrats is really helping local people. My ward colleagues Jill Fraser and Matt Sanders work hard all year around making a real effort to listen to residents and do what they can to help. By contrast, many of those running Camden's Labour party are rude, arrogant, and out of touch with local people.

I feel thoroughly let down by Labour, and I know that many others in Camden feel the same. I can best serve people in Haverstock by joining the strong local Liberal Democrat team.