AS Hertfordshire County Council met for the first time since the election today (Tuesday) the Liberal Democrats gained an extra member . . . following the shock defection of a Labour councillor.

Cllr Tina Bhartwas had been re-elected as the Labour county councillor for Letchworth North, in North Herts, earlier this month (May 1).

And since then she had even been elected as deputy leader of the council's Labour group.

But when she took her seat in the council chamber today, it was as a Liberal Democrat.

That surprise move increases the number of Liberal Democrats on the council to 32 – decreasing the number of Labour councillors to just four.

Commenting on her decision to move to the Liberal Democrats, Cllr Bhartwas points to a growing discomfort with some national Labour policies.

And she said it was something that she had been considering "for some time".

She told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that having experienced the "devastating impact" of welfare cuts herself growing-up, she could not stand-by "while this government harms vulnerable people and scape-goats communities".

And while she said she had hoped for changes during the local elections, she said that had not happened and that she had now "lost complete trust" in the Labour Party.

She said the Labour Party no longer represented the values of equality and social justice, that had been the reason that she had joined.

And she said: "These are the values people voted Labour for and that isn't what they are getting. But those are the values I continue to believe in and fight for.

"And I am proud to be joining the Liberal Democrats today as a progressive party of local champions, affecting action rather than words and committed to building more resilient communities."

Leader of the Labour group Cllr Nigel Bell told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that the move was a "blow" to the Labour group – who now have fewer council seats than the Green Party.

And he suggested that residents in Letchworth North who voted for her as a Labour candidate may feel let down.

"It's barely three weeks sine she stood as a candidate for the Labour Party – and she gave a pledge to local residents," he said.

"It must be upsetting and very galling to residents who voted for her – and for a lot of Labour Party members locally who worked hard to get her re-elected.

"Now they are going to feel that she has let them down.

"Personally I hope that she finds success in whatever she does in the future – but it is a blow to us and I am sorry she felt she had to leave the group."

Leader of the Conservative opposition Cllr Richard Roberts was also surprised by the move, coming so close after the election.

He suggested to the Local Democracy Reporting Service that Cllr Bhartwas had "betrayed" those residents who had voted Labour by moving to the Lib Dems – suggesting that there should be a by-election.

In response to a suggested by-election, Cllr Bhartwas said: "Despite this change I want to reassure residents that my commitment to the town remains unwavering.

"I have the same priorities and will continue to stand up to defend public services and to support the diverse communities I represent.

"I will be continuing to focus on issues I was elected on and which matter most to local people, including tackling the cost of living crisis, improving support for children with special needs and fixing roads."

• In the election for the Letchworth North seat on May 1, Cllr Bhartwas won the seat as a Labour candidate with 1141 votes.

Second placed was Reform UK candidate Harrison Edwards, who polled 984 votes – followed by Conservative Hammad Baig, with 856 votes.

The Liberal Democrat candidate Claire Winchester received just 457 votes. And the Green Party's David Morris received 398.