Openly gay Liverpool Councillor Gary Millar has defected from the Liberal Democrats to Labour.

The BBC reports that Gary blamed broken pledges by Lib Dems in the coalition government for his decision, which he said he began considering 12 months ago.

He said the "first nail in the coffin" was the Parliamentary party's support for the rise in student tuition fees.

Flo Clucas, Liverpool's acting Lib Dem leader, said fees had been introduced by the party he was now joining.

Until his resignation, Gary, who owns Parr Street Studios in the city, was opposition spokesman for employment and skills. He represents the Old Swan ward and is due to stand for re-election in 2012.

As well as the party's abandonment of their tuition fees pledge, Gary told the BBC the government cuts to police budgets was another factor in his decision. "We had a manifesto which included putting more police on the streets and yet Liverpool and the region faces 880 less, not more. That worries me hugely.”

As the news spread, Gary's Facebook profile was flooded with messages of support.

His resignation comes just over a week after the resignation - and subsequent suspension - of Warren Bradley, and just ahead of the local elections on May 5.

Councillor Joe Anderson, leader of the Labour group, welcomed the new addition to the party and urged other Lib Dems to follow his lead. "It is a real coup to have Gary join Labour. He will be a real asset to the party," he said.

"The Lib Dems are facing a wipe-out in the local elections next week.

"There will be many of their members equally dissatisfied about the unfair cuts, broken promises and propping up a Tory government. They should join Gary and join Labour as the only party standing up for Liverpool. We never close our doors to anyone."

The Lib Dems now have 33 out of 90 councillors on the Labour-run authority.

Source http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/england/merseyside/