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At a glance...

• Veteran councillor Tina Valcarcel, former Lambeth Mayor, has defected from Labour to the Liberal Democrats, saying Labour is “no longer the party I joined.”

• Her move adds to a wave of Labour defections across London, with councillors switching to the Liberal Democrats, Greens, Conservatives, and independents, often citing Sir Keir Starmer’s shift to the right and Labour’s stance on Gaza.

• The defections come amid multiple by-election losses for Labour in the capital, signalling growing grassroots discontent despite the party’s national election victory.

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