Muslim Labour MPs defect to Lib Dems over Middle East crisis

Up to 40 Labour Party members in Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett's constituency are defecting to the Liberal Democrats in protest at her handling of the Middle East crisis, it was announced today.

A "very high proportion" of the members from the Derby South constituency are Muslims, a Liberal Democrat spokesman said.

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The defectors include Mohammed Rawail Peeno, a Labour Party ward chairman, and Masood Akhta, an ex-city and county councillor.

Mr Peeno said: "We could not remain in the Labour Party after their mishandling of the Lebanon crisis.

"When Margaret Beckett refused to back a ceasefire and instead sided with George Bush, it was the breaking point for us.

"New Labour have abandoned the beliefs that led me and thousands of others to join Labour in the first place.

"We have now joined the Liberal Democrats, whose policies of respect for international law and good quality public services have support across every community in Britain."

'Significant'

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell called the defections "significant".

"The Government's position on the Middle East and Iraq shows just how out of touch it is with many in its party and the majority of the general public," he said.

The defections will be announced officially at the Pakistani Community Centre in Derby at 3.15pm.

The party spokesman added that some of the defectors had raised their complaints about Mrs Beckett's response to the crisis with the minister in the last couple of weeks.

"She said that she was doing all she could to bring a peaceful settlement but they didn't buy that," he added.

A Labour Party spokesman said: "We understand that there are ongoing local factors arising from a selection process last year which have led to this defection.

"It is always disappointing when any member decides to leave the Labour Party.

"It is important that the Foreign Secretary and the Prime Minister continue to work hard to achieve a sustainable ceasefire in Lebanon - something we're sure all Labour Party members would unite around."