A LONGSTANDING Labour councillor has admitted she defected to the Tories rather than standing as an independent because she wanted more power.

Councillor Anne Meadows, who has served for 25 years, says she was driven out of the Labour party by “disgraceful anti-Jewish racism”.

Her shock departure means the Conservatives are now the largest party on Brighton and Hove City Council.

Asked why she chose to defect to the Tories instead of standing as an independent, Cllr Meadows said: “As an independent councilor you don’t get have a say.

“You can’t say ‘this is what I believe in’.” The Argus asked “so then it is about power?” and Cllr Meadows agreed.

She believes her move from Labour to the Tories was “not a great leap” as at local level they are “effectively working towards the same goals”.

She also took aim at Labour MP for Brighton Kemptown Lloyd Russell-Moyle who branded her defection a “bare-faced career move”.

Cllr Meadows said: “This is rather rich coming from someone coming from someone who was a Lib Dem not so long ago. I would challenge him back as he’s claiming there’s no anti-Semitism.

“Is he too busy posturing in Parliament. Is that why he doesn’t know anyone who has been the victim of this.”

She laughed off the suggestion it was a career move saying: “What, at this time of my life?”

Cllr Meadows currently chairs the housing committee. She was deselected by Labour members last July.

That means while she is still a serving councillor, she would not be the Labour candidate in the local elections in May.

Cllr Anne Meadows featured in an alleged anti-Semitic tweet in 2017.

Daniel Harris, who intended to stand for election to Brighton and Hove City Council, posted a bizarre video with councillors’ faces superimposed on the heads of animated dancing Jewish figures.

Cllr Meadows said: “That [video] was the culmination of sustained abuse I had received and that really did top it off. I was offended then and I’m still offended by it.

“The bullying and aggression that’s shown in the Labour Group meetings is something I no longer want to be a party of. It’s not the Labour party I knew and loved – they’re not same Labour Party policies, it has changed the last 18 months.”

In a plea to her constituents who may be worried by the party change she said: “Just come and talk to me and I will explain it. I am still me I have not changed.”