Lib-Dems’ Fraenkel to defect to Labour ranks

Mar 7 2008 by David Bartlett, Liverpool Daily Post

A LONG-STANDING Liverpool Liberal Democrat councillor will today defect to Labour.

Cllr Beatrice Fraenkel will defect to Labour in a move designed to cause maximum embarrassment to the Liberal Democrats who start their conference at the BT Convention Centre today.

In December, Cllr Fraenkel was deselected by the Lib- Dems from standing in the Cressington ward in May’s local election, after having held the seat since 1986.

At the time, she denied speculation that she was about to join Labour.

Last night, the Labour Party did not want to comment on the defection until the official announcement – which is likely to be made this afternoon.

Cllr Fraenkel was described by Labour leader Cllr Joe Anderson as “a very honourable woman” at the time of her deselection.

Last night, Lib-Dem regeneration leader Cllr Mike Storey hit out at the “cynical” timing of the announcement.

He also criticised her attendance record at council meetings, which he claimed was 58%.

“The fact that she is announcing this on the opening of the Lib-Dem conference is a cynical and manipulative move.

“Perhaps it’s a good thing that she was not selected.”

Cllr Fraenkel is a non-executive director for the Standards Board for England, and is understood to have been “deeply unhappy” about certain decisions made by the party’s leaders.

Behind closed doors, she questioned the council’s handling of the row that surroun- ded Mr Storey’s dram- atic step-down, and the exit of then chief exec- utive David Henshaw.