SENIOR Liverpool Liberal Democrat Lynnie Williams dramatically defected to Labour on the last day of the party’s conference.

Cllr Lynnie Hinnigan (nee Williams), who represents the Mossley Hill ward on Liverpool Council, joined Labour live on stage at the closing of the conference at Liverpool’s Echo Arena yesterday.

She said she could no longer stay in a Lib-Dem party which was part of a coalition Government delivering huge public sector cuts to the city.

Cllr Hinnigan insisted she would not be standing for re-election in May and wanted to get to know the Labour party before she put herself forward for public office again.

After a standing ovation from the conference, she said: “Nick Clegg lied. He lied to me and he lied to the people of Liverpool.

“I am not a career politician and I will not stand for election in May. I am not doing this because I wanted to cross the floor to get a safer seat.

“I wanted to do what was right for my children, my stepchildren and my city.”

She later said she would be now be able to sleep easier at night.