THE last Conservative to have held a seat on Liverpool Council has defected to Labour.

Steve Fitzsimmons, who represented Woolton for 10 years and lost his seat in 1998, has joined the Labour party, saying the Government’s cuts programme had unfairly hit the city.

The 54-year-old, who runs the Alder Sports Club, in West Derby, said he had considered leaving the Conservatives for the past 12 months and admitted joining Labour was a “complete change” for him.

The one-time Thatcherite polled 164 votes in Fazakerley in the local elections earlier this month. The ward was comfortably won by Labour with 2,831 votes.

Mr Fitzsimmons became the second high-profile defection to the Labour party in Liverpool in the past month, after senior Liberal Democrat Cllr Gary Millar joined the party.

Mr Fitzsimmons said: “It is a decision I have contemplated for more than 12 months.

“Having looked at what has happened in Liverpool since Joe Anderson took control [of the council last year], I was impressed with the vision Labour has for the city.

“I believe the Labour party has changed and I feel comfortable and at home there.”

Mr Fitzsimmons was leader of the Conservatives in Liverpool until 1996, when his former Tory colleague John Backhouse lost his seat on the council.

He said: “I have nothing but respect and admiration for my friends in the Conservative party.”