ONE of 'the most formidable councillors in the council chamber' has switched allegiances, joining the Conservative Party from Labour - and is facing calls for a by-election.

Carlisle City Council member Jo Ellis-Williams has left the Labour Party for the opposite side of the council chamber, and the move gives the Conservatives an overall majority.

Cllr Ellis-Williams was a key player in the Labour Party, having served as its chairperson until September.

The councillor for Parklands and Harraby South said: "I got involved in politics to help people, to improve lives and improve the area we live.

"It has become increasingly apparent locally that the Labour Party is no longer the place to achieve that.

"I don’t feel my core values of increasing fairness and prosperity have changed; it just doesn’t seem to me that the Labour Party in Carlisle is capable of delivering on these values anymore.

"They are too busy squabbling amongst themselves. This in-fighting, point scoring and focussing on the nurturing of grievance has created an ugly culture of self-interest amongst some party members.”

Conservative councillor for Sandsfield and Morton West James Bainbridge said: "Jo is one of the most formidable councillors in the council chamber. I'm absolutely delighted she's moved over to the Conservatives."

Cllr Bainbridge blamed the move on in-fighting within the Labour Party: "In my opinion the local Labour Party has been taken over by the hard left."

The Tory power base has benefitted from the move. Cllr Bainbridge said: "There are 39 councillors and we have 20 which is a pleasant position to be in.

"There's probably one or two Labour councillors in there that are maybe thinking about it more seriously now."

"We're not going to be gung-ho about it - we understand the situation is Carlisle as a council won't exist in a couple of years."

Former chair of Carlisle Labour Party Elsie Martlew said: “Only last week she was talking about putting papers in for the new unitary. There’s going to be a selection process for Local Government Reorganisation.

“Only last week she was very enthusiastic to put her papers in to represent Labour in Carlisle.”

Chairman of the Carlisle and District Green Party Gavin Hawkton said: "Councillor Ellis-Williams was elected by the voters of Parklands and Harraby South in good faith as a Labour councillor.

"If she wants to change her party then that’s up to her, but she should resign her seat first and put it to voters in a by-election.

"The decision to switch parties impacts on the rest of the city as it now means that the Conservatives hold a majority because of her defection. To not resign would mean she is treating her ward and the wider city with utter contempt.

"We look forward to her clarifying her position."

Leader of Carlisle Constituency Labour Party Les Tickner said: "I am both puzzled and disappointed that Cllr Ellis Williams has decided to cross the floor and join the Conservatives.

"It is not that long ago when she declared in a letter to Labour activists that 'we desperately need a Labour MP and a Labour led City Council. The Conservatives do not think about the many, they are for the few.'

"That hasn’t changed. If anything the Conservatives have gotten worse, with the recent vote to remove the Universal Credit uplift and voting against a Labour resolution aimed at ensuring vulnerable children have access to good food."