A British Labour MP today defected to the Liberal Democrats in a row over his opposition to the war in Afghanistan. Mr Paul Marsden was welcomed by Liberal Democrat leader Mr Charles Kennedy.
The MP for Shrewsbury and Atcham has been at the centre of rows with Labour over his opposition to the war in Afghanistan.
Mr Marsden, who entered parliament in May 1997, accused fellow Labour MPs of behaving like "thugs" towards him because of his opposition to the British government.
He said: "This has been a tough decision. There's been a lot of agonising over many months. Like more and more people in this country I have lost confidence in this Labour Government ... I'm sick and tired of giving the Government the benefit of the doubt."