LIBERAL Democrat leader Tom Harney knew nothing of the defection of one of his senior councillors until he read it in the Liverpool Daily Post, he revealed last night.

Bromborough councillor Steve Niblock quit the Liberal Democrats at the weekend and joined the Labour group, saying he had had enough of the national and local coalitions with the Tories.

Cllr Harney said: “Steve had not told anyone he was resigning, and didn’t come to our group annual general meeting.

“It was obviously a personal decision of his and he has not explained it to us.

“I had to read it in the Daily Post.”

Cllr Niblock, first elected in 2002 and leader of the Lib-Dem group on Merseyside Fire Authority, said he had opposed the decision of the party both nationally and locally last year to support the Conservatives but had agreed to give it 12 months before making his opposition known.

The move comes as the Lib-Dems, who now have just nine councillors, are being wooed by both Labour and the Conservatives as the parties jostle to take control of Wirral Council.

Following the elections, Labour became the largest group, increasing their tally of seats to 29.

The recent defection has helped Labour reach 30 seats, but they remain still four short of an overall majority.