A FORMER senior Wycombe Conservative who recently lambasted the party as he quit has teamed up with rivals Labour.

Lakshan Wanigasooriya has gone to the red side of the political divide.

His switch comes hot on the heels of former High Wycombe Mayor Chaudhry Shafique's move in the opposite direction, leaving Labour for the Tories.

Mr Wanigasooriya, formerly Chairman of the High Wycombe eastern branch of the Conservative Association, said: "I am very happy to be able to speak for the Labour Party on behalf of the people of Totteridge. I believe the Tories and Lib Dems have lost touch with the electorate."

The ex-member of the management committee of the Wycombe Conservative Association claimed the Government has ruined the life of millions, while he praised Labour's call for a freeze on energy prices.

He said: "Labour is redefining its relationships with the trade unions; and has taken on the Murdochs of this world.

"I believe what defines good policy is the ability of those in power to look at the results of their actions through the eyes of the outcast, the accused, the maltreated, the powerless, the oppressed and the reviled - in short, from the perspective of those who suffer.

"This Government has failed to do this. "We are all in it together" is nothing more than an election slogan."

He will be a Labour spokesman in Totteridge.

Councillor Ian Bates, Labour group leader at Wycombe District Council, welcomed him, saying: "He brings with him a wealth of experience and a commitment to the values of the Labour Party."

Sue Hynard, Secretary of Wycombe Conservative Association, said "One of the things that puts people off politics, either at a national or local level, is when political parties take gratuitous swipes at one another. "If this is what Lakshan Wanigasooriya genuinely thinks then it is diametrically opposed to what he used to hold true.

"The Conservative Party knows that many of its policies - from welfare reform to taking the difficult but necessary steps to mend Britain’s broken economy - are endorsed by the public."

She said: "We are always prepared to fight on the issues rather than personalities. We look forward to challenging Lakshan Wanigasooriya, and the Labour Party, in the 2015 elections based on the achievements of the Government and district council.

"We trust in the good judgement of our electorate to see through his immature posturing and vote for the future prosperity and well-being of hard-working people and the country that only a Conservative government can deliver."