A COUNCILLOR has quit the ruling LibDem group on the district council and returned to his political roots.

Cllr Martin Peters, who is taking part in the current wave of strikes in the NHS, has joined Labour on Somerset West and Taunton Council (SWT).

He had been elected for the LibDems in 2019 to represent the Manor and Tangier ward and is vice chairman of the standards committee at the Deane House.

Cllr Peters, who grew up in Bridgwater, is back in the Labour fold after a 14-year gap - he first became a member of the party in 1983.

Commenting on his reasons for leaving the LibDems this week, he said: "The Liberal Democrats haven’t made much progress nationally in the seven years since it suffered a disastrous defeat in 2015.

"The party has basically continued in the same vein and is mainly just a repository for anti-Tory votes in some areas.

"I’m now unclear where the party is either more liberal or has better economic policies."

He added: "I have confidence in Keir Starmer and the shadow cabinet.

"I’m a social democrat not a centrist or economic liberal.

"It is very clear that there won’t be any change without the Labour Party.

"Unlike the Liberal Democrats, the Labour Party is a vast national movement, with many party groups to join and influence/debate national policy.

"I am happy that the Labour Party is now essentially to the left of New Labour, but clearly to the right of its position under Jeremy Corbyn."

Cllr Peters said: "The country needs renewal after 12 years of Tory government, Brexit, Covid and the cost of living crisis.

"We need a Labour government that will make radical decisions to help fund public services.

"I work in the NHS and I believe it needs far more resources.

"Labour’s recent policy announcements have impressed me - private schools, a nationalised energy company, de-centralisation and the House of Lords.

"As an activist in the Electoral Reform Society, Make Votes Matter and Compass I want to abolish First Past The Post (FPTP) and have an electoral system that is fair to the Liberal Democrats, Greens and Labour voters in seats like Taunton.

"This would also help keep the Tories out.

"I will now campaign for proportional representation within the Labour Party and the Labour campaign for electoral reform.

"I hope the Labour Party forms a new government that will transform Britain for the better."