The most successful leader of Salford’s Liberal Democrats has switched sides... and joined the Labour Party.

Norman Owen was in charge of ten of the city’s Liberal Democrat councillors in 2008/09 - the largest number the party has ever achieved.

A thorn in the side of the ruling Labour group for two decades he earned the nickname ‘Stormin’ Norman’ due to his direct style.

At the last General Election he secured a massive Lib Dem boost, winning just under 11,000 votes and coming a respectable second to incumbent MP Hazel Blears.

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But Mr Owen, who lost his Claremont ward council seat in 2012, and again lost out to Ian Stewart in a contest to be the city’s first elected mayor in the same year, has now given his allegiance to his previous rivals.

Speaking to the M.E.N, he said: “The Liberal Democrats have abdicated their social conscience for a taste of power.”

He has now joined the Salford and Eccles Constitency Labour Party and will be out canvassing for the party’s candidate, Rebecca Long-Bailey.

Mr Owen, who joined the SDP, before becoming a founding member of the Liberal Democrats in Salford, stood eleven times before being elected in 1999.

Mr Owen said: “Nick Clegg has let the party down in joining the coalition. The policies that the Liberal Democrats stood for have completely collapsed. There has been injustic dealt out by this coalition to the disabled, jobless, and others who are vulnerable. For example the bedroom tax - that is just not fair.

“I joined the Labour party because my social conscience will not let me see this country, or this city, suffer under this coalition.

“They want to clear the deficit in one fell swoop and it won’t work.”

Asked if his decision to join Labour was the start of a political comeback, he said: “That is a decision for the party. If they choose to ask me to stand for election I will consider it.

“I know a lot of people in this city and over the years I have helped a lot of people. Everywhere I go people recognise me, some people still think I am a councillor.”

Asked if was not being disloyal to the thousands who had voted for him over the years, he said; “No. Over many years I was always being told by the people of Salford that I was in the wrong party, now I have remedied that.”

“What is driving me is seeing the effects of this government in Salford. People are having vital benefits taken away. We have people working on zero contracts, but scared of losing their jobs.

“We battled for years to get the police in Greater Manchester up to 8,500 officers now it is 6,000 and crime has not decreased that much overall - it is disgraceful.”

In 2011 Mr Owen was involved in a bust-up in a town hall corridor with former Labour leader Bill Hinds. A member of staff had to step between them as looked as it would come to blows as they argued about a controversial increase in student tuition fees.

Mr Owen said: “Mr Hinds and I are best of friends. I have mellowed a hell of a lot.”