MP Marsden defects back to Labour

Paul Marsden recently announced he had a tumour

A Labour MP who defected to the Lib Dems because of his opposition to the war in Afghanistan has decided to rejoin his old party.

Paul Marsden said he made his decision because he feared "good constituency Labour MPs" would lose their seats if voters backed the Tories or Lib Dems.

The Shrewsbury and Atcham MP left Labour in December 2001 and is standing down at the election.

His move comes after a Labour candidate defected to the Lib Dems on Tuesday.

Stephen Wilkinson had been due to stand for Labour in Ribble Valley.

War worries

Mr Marsden recently announced he had a tumour in his shoulder.

In his statement announcing his second defection he said: "I left the Labour Party in 2001 because I refused to be silenced over the war in Afghanistan and my unhappiness over the levels of investment in public services.

"Like 138 Labour MPs I feel vindicated that the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq were not necessary and have cost thousands of lives of innocent civilians.

"I did not agree with the government's foreign policy then, and I do not agree with it now but I believe that I can now disagree with that policy from inside the Labour Party which is more tolerant and more willing to listen."

He went on to praise investment in public services, before urging voters to back Labour candidates on 5 May, saying a Tory government would "impose savage cuts".

'Bizarre'

When he left Labour, Mr Marsden complained of the party's "control freakery" and accused Tony Blair of being arrogant.

On Wednesday, he told BBC News: "Whatever my past feelings about Tony [Blair], whatever my past feelings about the way I was treated - and I think I was treated badly at the time - right now there is no point harking about the past."

Lib Dem frontbencher Mark Oaten said the defection was "a slightly bizarre situation".

"He has not been around in Parliament now for six months or so," he said. "Paul had decided he was stepping down as an MP anyway."

Mr Oaten said it was now "even Stevens" after Mr Wilkinson crossed to the Lib Dems on Tuesday.