Labour’s Cllr Rajan-Seelan had already been barred from standing at next year’s local elections by the Party
Grant Williams Local democracy reporter
16:08, 31 Oct 2025
Cllr Rajan-Seelan has defected to the Conservatives from Labour(Image: Brent Council )
A Brent Labour councillor has resigned from the party and defected to the Conservatives, but not before first trying to ‘demand a specific ward’ with the Liberal Democrats. Cllr Rajan-Seelan was one of the eight Labour councillors that had already been barred from running under the Party’s banner at next year’s local elections.
In September, the regional branch of the Labour Party de-selected eight current Brent councillors for the upcoming elections, set to take place on May 7. Some of those who have been dropped were said to be “deflated, depressed, or angry” following the decision.
Cllr Rajan-Seelan was one of those councillors who was barred but, rather than completing the remainder of his term as a representative for Wembley Central ward as a member of the Labour Party, he has jumped ship to the Tories.
Brent Labour’s candidate selection for next year’s local elections is being decided by the regional branch(Image: JOHN GOMEZ via Getty Images)
Brent Council’s website currently lists Cllr Rajan-Seelan as an Independent, however, the defection has been confirmed by the local Conservative Group and this is only whilst the paperwork is finalised. The Brent Conservatives were approached for comment but did not respond ahead of publication.
However, the Tories don’t appear to have been Cllr Rajan-Seelan’s first choice of Party to defect to. A text message sent to the LDRS from a source at the Brent Liberal Democrat Group appears to show him expressing disappointment at the Party for not offering him the seat he demanded in Alperton. Instead, he was told “seats are not given away like sweets.”
Brent Liberal Democrats Chair, Virginia Bonham-Carter, told the LDRS, whilst the party did have conversations with Cllr Rajan-Seelan about joining the party, they “decided quickly that he wasn’t acceptable to us, as he could not meet our expectations”.
She added: “Labour’s decline in Brent has been clear for some time, and this latest episode involving a deselected Labour Councillor underlines how deep their problems run. Local people deserve councillors who focus on residents’ needs, not on party infighting and personal ambition.
Cllr Rajan-Seelan had previously expressed interest in representing the Liberal Democrats in Alperton
“The local Lib Dems prioritise getting results for residents, cleaner streets, safer neighbourhoods, and better services. Brent Labour, meanwhile, has become a party too busy fighting itself rather than serving the people it’s meant to represent. Brent deserves better, and that change won’t come from Labour, it will come from those who care about our community and actually get things done.”
Cllr Rajan-Seelan was approached for comment on his defection to the Tories but did not respond ahead of publication. He did respond to the specific point about his apparent willingness to represent the Liberal Democrats, stating “I had demanded a specific ward, but they weren’t able [to] offer that.”
A spokesperson for the London Region Office of the Labour Party told the LDRS: “Cllr Rajan-Seelan was not selected as a Labour candidate for next May’s local elections. Our focus is on putting forward the strongest possible team to deliver for the hardworking residents of Brent.
“Under Labour leadership, Brent Council has delivered one of the highest numbers of genuinely affordable homes in London, opened hundreds of new council homes across the borough, invested millions in improving roads and regenerating town centres, and supported thousands of residents through the cost-of-living crisis. Brent Council has also expanded youth services, improved recycling rates, and taken ambitious steps towards becoming a net zero borough.
“With this record of delivery, we’re confident that residents will continue to put their trust in Labour at the local elections next May – and that Labour in Brent, at City Hall, and in government will keep delivering real change for our communities and building a fairer, greener future for everyone in Brent.”
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