A veteran East Sussex Labour councillor has joined the Liberal Democrats, accusing Tony Blair of not listening to the concerns of ordinary people.

East Sussex county councillor Richard Stevens' decision to join the Lib Dems was announced this morning as the party's conference got under way in Brighton.

Coun Stevens, a Labour Party member since 1969, said: "It is not me who has changed, it is the Labour Party. I just do not believe in the New Labour project."

He said he was now "far more in tune" with Lib Dem policies and voters were losing faith in the Government.

He said: "Labour has presided over an illegal war, schools having to lay off teachers, a fragmented NHS and an unreliable, expensive and under-resourced transport system.

"Put this together with pensioner poverty, rising violent crime, university top-up fees and foundation hospitals and you can see why so many of the electorate have become disillusioned.

"The most serious charge against Tony Blair is he will not listen to the concerns of the people."

Coun Stevens represents the Broomgrove and Ore division on the Tory-run county council. His decision means the Lib Dems now have 14 councillors.

Group leader David Rogers said: "I welcome Richard Stevens to the East Sussex Lib Dem group. His disenchantment with Labour over public services and Iraq is clear."

Labour leader Keith Bridger said: "A lot of people in the Labour movement are not particularly happy with some of the things Labour is doing at the moment but we must not forget since 1997 it has done quite a lot."