Two active Labour Party supporters have joined the Liberal Democrats in an amazing turn around.

Manchester Solicitors Sufiyan Rana and Moin Azma hooked up with the Liberal Democrats during the recent by-election in Gorton South, Manchester.

Their defections came at a time when Labour was embroiled in a row over the wearing of veils by Muslim women after comments in the media from Jack Straw MP.

Sajjad Karim joined Lib Dem Council Group Leader, Cllr Simon Ashley, to sign up the new recruits and said: "Sufiyan and Moin will find be warmly welcomed by the Liberal Democrats in Manchester and I am sure they will not regret their decision to join us at a time when there are great opportunities for the party to make further inroads into Labour's heartlands in the coming months," Saj added.

Cllr Simon Ashley said: "In Manchester it is only the Liberal Democrats who offer any real opposition to Labour and its failure to tackle the real underlying issues of community cohesion, which have become even more strained with some of their recent proposals and statements.

Sufiyan Ran added: "It is always hard to sever your ties with a political party you have supported but the way this Government has been behaving over so many issues relating to civil liberties and human rights made that decision much easier for me.

"I look forward to working and campaigning for a Party that truly believes in freedom, equality and democracy and playing my part in their progress in Manchester in the months and years to come," he concluded.