THE Tories today gained a political foothold on Manchester council for the first time in a decade after a key Liberal Democrat defected.

Faraz Bhatti, a 34-year-old legal executive, made the shock switch after claiming that the Lib Dems were failing to provide a credible alternative to Labour.

It is the first time the Conservatives have had a councillor in Manchester since Peter Hilton and Paul Cummins lost their seats in Didsbury and Brooklands in 1996.

Party leader David Cameron, who will meet Coun Bhatti, pictured right, during a tour of the region today, told the M.E.N. he was `delighted' at the news. Mr Cameron said: "Faraz is showing that our party is the true home of progressive politics. We stand for extending opportunity and decentralising power to stronger families and a more responsible society and a safer, greener Britain.

"For the first time in 11 years, we now have a Conservative on Manchester city council. I look forward to working with Faraz and our Conservative activists in Manchester to tackle crime and improve the quality of life for people living there." Coun Bhatti said he had been impressed by Mr Cameron's description of himself as a `liberal Conservative'.

He said of his decision to join the Tories: "It has been in my mind for a while. In Manchester the party controlling the council are wasting a lot of tax payers' money. The party of opposition are supposed to be checking up on them and are not doing their job. They [now have] a clear-cut option."

Coun Bhatti, who captured his seat in Whalley Range in 2004, was seen as a Lib Dem rising star.

In 2005 he stood for parliament in Stretford and Urmston, gaining 5,323 votes to finish third behind Labour MP Beverley Hughes and the Tories' Damien Hinds (11,556).

He was re-elected to the Whalley Range ward last summer, with a majority of 612 over Labour's Kath Fry. He serves on the licensing committee and the children and young people scrutiny committee, and his term runs until 2011.

The M.E.N. understands he was persuaded to jump ship by Saj Karim, the Euro-MP who made the Lib Dem-to-Tory switch in November.

That defection was also seen as a major blow for the Lib Dems - not least because Mr Karim was their only Asian parliamentarian.

Mr Karim said today: "This sends a very clear signal that the party is broadening its appeal and allowing people like him to feel comfortable in their natural home."

Coun Bhatti's switch was greeted with fury by the Lib Dems today, who suggested it was tied up with a bitter reselection row in Whalley Range.

Simon Ashley, leader of the opposition on Manchester council, said: "This is absolutely nothing to do with the Tories and everything to do with Faraz's ego. I have never heard him talk about the Conservatives before. He seems upset that I don't consider him the most important person in the world.

"He has shafted his ward colleagues and shafted the party."

Today's news means Labour has 61 seats on the council, the Lib Dems 33, the Conservatives one, and the Green Party one.

The defection came as Mr Cameron was due to give a major speech on health reform today. He was visiting Trafford Hospital - the first to be opened as part of the newly-created NHS in 1948 - to propose fining trusts for every patient who catches a superbug.

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