THE balance of political power in Hillingdon has swung even further in favour of the Conservatives as a Heathrow Villages councillor has chosen to switch parties.

Councillor Santokh Dhillon was chosen as Labour representative for the ward in the election of 2006 alongside Councillor Anita MacDonald, also Labour, and Councillor Paul Buttivant (Conservative).

However, this afternoon (Thursday) the Tories announced Mr Dhillon was defecting to their side after becoming disillusioned with his group's way of working.

Mr Dhillon said: "I became a Councillor to help local people and improve the area in which we live.

"I think that the Labour Group are more interested in playing politics than helping the people of Hillingdon and I have been disillusioned for some time.

"Under Ray Puddifoot's leadership the Conservatives have a policy of putting residents first and they have made a positive difference for the people and the environment of this borough.

"I want to be in a party that serves people not politics and I believe that only the Conservatives in Hillingdon can do that."

Welcoming Mr Dhillon into the party, Mr Puddifoot (Leader of the Conservatives) said: "Santokh is a decent man, he has been a lifelong Labour Party supporter and I know that he has thought long and hard about this decision.

"He shares our values, and anyone who does is welcome to join us and help us to continue to make a positive difference to Hillingdon and its people."

In response the Hillingdon Labour Group has issued the following statement: "We are saddened but not completely surprised by Councillor Dhillon's defection to the Tories.

"There have been concerns raised about Councillor Dhillon's lack of activity as a local councillor particularly as a result of his long absences caused by his frequent visits to his property in India.

"The Labour group was taking action to address the concerns about Councillor Dhillon's underperformance as a local councillor and this may have prompted his decision to desert.

"Given that he was elected as a Labour councillor he is honour bound to stand down and allow a by-election to take place so that the electorate can decide who should represent them."

Mr Dhillon is the second person to defect to the Conservatives in recent weeks after Labhaya Chamdal left the Liberal Democrats to join the party claiming they were the only ones who could get things done.