In a significant political shift, a West London councillor has crossed the floor from Labour to the Conservatives, marking the fourth such defection within a single week.
Councillor Jumps Ship Over Financial Concerns
Councillor Vickram Grewal, who represents Cranford, had been re-selected to stand as a Labour candidate in the 2026 local elections. However, he has abandoned the party, pointing to what he describes as severe local and national financial mismanagement.
"Hounslow Labour has driven our borough to the brink," Grewal stated. He highlighted a £28.3 million budget black hole and a £230 million gamble of taxpayers' money on the Lampton Group company, which he labelled as "failing".
"Reserves are being drained to cover mistakes caused by internal infighting and vanity projects," he added. "As a financial professional, I cannot stand by while the council puts our borough's future at risk."
A History of Service and a New Political Home
First elected in 2018 with a commanding personal mandate, Grewal served in several key roles, including Cabinet Assistant for Education and Chair of the Housing and Environment Scrutiny Committee.
He was due to stand in Chiswick Homefields in 2026 but expressed deep disillusionment with how the Labour-run council treated the area. "Hounslow Labour treats Chiswick like a cash cow," he claimed, referencing a past comment from the Council Leader who allegedly branded Chiswick a 'backwater'.
"I could not, in good conscience, stand to represent the Chiswick community for a party that has shown such clear disdain for this part of the borough," Grewal explained. He now feels "privileged" to join the local Conservative councillors, whom he praised for their hard work.
Political Fallout and Counter-Accusations
The defection has triggered a sharp political row. Councillor Shantanu Rajawat, the Leader of Hounslow Council, hit back, suggesting Grewal never took his responsibilities seriously.
"Since defecting, however, Cllr Grewal seems to have swapped his red rosette for a tinfoil hat," Rajawat quipped. He defended the council's financial position, stating Hounslow is actually in a strong financial position, a budget Grewal himself had voted for.
Rajawat shifted the blame to 14 years of Conservative government cuts and accused local Tories of proposing an £8.8 million unfunded raid on council reserves.
The weekend event announcing Grewal's move was attended by senior Conservative figures, including Kevin Hollinrake MP, the Party Chairman, and Gareth Bacon MP, the Shadow Minister for London, who warmly welcomed Grewal to the "London Conservative family."
This is the fourth blow to Hounslow Labour in just seven days, following the resignation of Councillor Raghwinder Siddhu and two others, signalling significant internal turbulence as the party gears up for the 2026 local elections.
