A Westminster councillor has resigned from Labour and decamped to the Conservatives blaming three things: "Stagnation, Sadiq and Security". Announcing he was joining the Conservatives, Councillor Paul Fisher said the Mayor of London "has failed London" after being too concentrated on such as the " than addressing crime and the very real fears that many local people have about their safety and security."

Earlier this year Sadiq Khan launched his £150million plan to pedestrianise Oxford Street despite warnings it could increase crime. Khan hopes that altering the city's most famous shopping destination will increase visitor numbers, create jobs, and boost growth for London. In response Westminster City Council's Conservative group called the consultation an "ill thought out vanity project".

Cllr Fisher added that the UK is "being pushed into economic stagnation" and criticised Labour's "solution" to "tax, spend and borrow its way to prosperity".

Labour won control of the flagship West End Ward, which covers Oxford Street, Regent Street, Bond Street, Fitzrovia, Marylebone, for the first time at the local elections in 2022. However, the Tories won a by-election in the flagship central London council in September 2024, which saw the return of former Councillor, Timothy Barnes. Labour retains the third seat in the ward.

Labour now hold 28 seats on Westminster council to the Conservative's 26. Barrister Mr Fisher has represented the West End ward since 2022.

Cllr Fisher said: "I am joining the Conservative Party for three reasons: Stagnation, Sadiq and Security. Under a Labour government, our country is being pushed into economic stagnation with a tax on jobs stifling economic growth. Labour's "solution" to Britain's problems is to tax, spend and borrow its way to prosperity.

"As Mayor, Sadiq Khan has failed London. He is more focused on vanity projects such as Oxford Street pedestrianisation than addressing crime and the very real fears that many local people have about their safety and security.

"I am disappointed that the Labour Party I have worked hard for over many years is not delivering solutions to the problems we all face. The Conservative Party in Westminster has shown me they are listening, and they have a passion for finding pragmatic answers to the problems of our City. As a Conservative, I will hold Labour to account."

In response Cllr Paul Swaddle, Leader of the City of Westminster Conservative Group, said: "Cllr Fisher has won the respect of Conservative Councillors across the usual party divides and has shown himself to be an intelligent, diligent and highly capable councillor.

"With our three by-election victories since the General Election, we have seen the huge number of local residents who, like Cllr Fisher, are upset and angry at Labour's failings here in Westminster and across the country. We are looking forward to the local elections next year as our opportunity to retake control of the council and address those legitimate concerns."

The Mayor of London's office has been contacted for comment.