A Liberal Democrat councillor in Dalston has quit the party for the Conservatives.
Trevor Allison said he believed the Conservatives best represented his values now.
He said: “I decided to join the Conservatives as there was a drift in the direction of the local liberals, away from community and towards petty politics and trying to score cheap political points.
“I have always been a local campaigner, dedicated to the Dalston community which I am elected to serve. Although this has been a difficult decision, I believe that the Conservatives best represent my values of making our communities better places to live in.
Mark Jenkinson, currently Workington MP, will be fighting for the proposed Penrith and Solway constituency in the next General Election, if proposed boundary changes go ahead.
He said: “Dalston will soon be part of the Penrith and Solway constituency.
“I look forward to campaigning and working with Trevor for residents living in Dalston ward. It is important that we continue to support the local community like John Stevenson and previous Conservative councillors have done over a number of years.”
Carlisle MP John Stevenson added: “I’m pleased to welcome Trevor to the Conservatives, he’s a hard-working councillor and over the years has a track record of delivering.
“The Dalston community has always been served well by Conservative councillors and I know that Trevor will continue in this vein.”
A councillor, who did not wish to be named, said: “This is the first time in Cumbrian politics that a councillor has jumped from a lifeboat onto the Titanic.
“His move to the Conservatives is incomprehensible given the terrible performance of the local Tories in last May’s local elections and the bad reputation the Conservatives now have nationally enmired in scandal after scandal.”
