Protest against Sadiq Khan ‘Vanity project’ behind Labour councillor’s defection to Tories

By Adrian Zorzut, Local Democracy Reporter

A London councillor has quit the Labour Party and joined the Conservatives citing Sadiq Khan ’s “vanity projects” such as pedestrianising Oxford Street.

Councillor Paul Fisher said the Labour mayor had been more focused on planning projects “than addressing crime and the very real fears that many local people have about their safety and security.”

He also slammed what he described as the Labour government’s plan to “tax, spend and borrow its way to prosperity”.

Labour won control of Westminster City council at the local elections in 2022, taking all West End seats.

Now, only one Labour councillor remains representing the central London ward. Cllr Fisher’s defection comes as the party lost three local by-elections. Labour now holds a slim majority of 28 seats while the Conservatives have 26.

The West End councillor said: “I am joining the Conservative Party for three reasons: Stagnation, Sadiq and Security. As Mayor, Sadiq Khan has failed London. He is more focused on vanity projects such as Oxford Street pedestrianisation than addressing crime and the very real fears that many local people have about their safety and security.”

He added: “I am disappointed that the Labour Party I have worked hard for over many years is not delivering solutions to the problems we all face. The Conservative Party in Westminster has shown me they are listening, and they have a passion for finding pragmatic answers to the problems of our City.”

Cllr Fisher said he began considering the swap shortly after Labour’s General Election win in July but said the decision to defect “was not taken lightly”.

He said: “The cost of borrowing has increased beyond initial forecasts. What the government should be doing is setting up a plan in the short term to bring down the debt but what we saw in the Spring Statement was an increase in spending. My view is the party was making things worse and increasing National Insurance contributions on companies was a disastrous decision.”

Cllr Fisher also claimed Westminster Labour had “little influence” within the national party, which he said viewed their win in 2022 local elections in the borough as a “blip”.

Westminster City council leader Adam Hug said he was “deeply disappointed” by the decision.

He said: “As a council we are committed to taking action to address crime and anti-social behaviour through investing in CCTV, new city inspectors and other measures after the Tories withdrew from the scene on these issues.

Cllr Paul Swaddle, leader of the City of Westminster Conservative Group, said: “Cllr Fisher has won the respect of Conservative councillors across the usual party divides and has shown himself to be an intelligent, diligent and highly capable councillor.

“With our three by-election victories since the General Election, we have seen the huge number of local residents who, like Cllr Fisher, are upset and angry at Labour’s failings here in Westminster and across the country. We are looking forward to the local elections next year as our opportunity to retake control of the council.”

A London Labour spokesman said: “Cllr Paul Fisher was elected on a manifesto of a fairer, safer, greener Westminster, so it is deeply disappointing that he has chosen to reject that vision and join Kemi Badenoch’s Conservative Party.

“He has joined a hopelessly divided party that was utterly rejected by the electorate just nine months ago.”

Pictured top: Paul Fisher (centre) flanked by fellow councillors Paul Swaddle, left, and Tim Barnes (Picture: Westminster Conservatives)