A WINCHESTER city councillor has switched his allegiance to a rival party.

Jamie Scott has represented St Luke's ward in Stanmore since 2011, latterly for the Conservatives.

He attended last night's full Council meeting and was spotted sitting and voting with Liberal Democrat councillors.

Cllr Scott confirmed the switch when emailed by the Chronicle during the meeting at the Council Chamber on Castle Avenue, and said he would issue a statement later.

The council website was altered yesterday evening.

He was first elected as a Conservative before moving over to the Liberal Democrats. Later he returned to the Tories but has now switched for a third time.

Cllr Scott is Winchester born and bred and is one of the few councillors to live in a city council house. For many years he was a community worker in Stanmore.

His transfer now means that all 14 seats in the city area of the district are now held by the Lib Dems. Cllr Scott had been the only Tory on the town forum, a city council committee that acts as a kind of 'parish council'.

Cllr Scott said: "I've always worked hard for the benefit of my community and I’ve seen how the Lib Dem team at the council are working to get things done that will make a real difference here. Even though we’ve been in different parties, they’ve never stopped working with me on issues in my ward and how we can help people and the community." 

Council leader Martin Tod said: "The things Jamie cares about – more affordable homes, building a strong community, supporting people with the cost of living and going greener, faster on the environment – are things we care about too.

"Having Jamie in the team will mean we can do even more for people across the St Luke ward community."