A Labour councillor has defected to the Conservatives citing “antisemitism” and “abuse” as the reason.

Brighton and Hove City Council could switch from Labour to Conservatives as the Tories now have more councillors.

Councillor Anne Meadows has defected to the Conservatives saying she has had 18 months of abuse and antisemitism.

Brandon Lewis, Conservative MP for Great Yarmouth, welcomed Cllr Meadows to the Conservative Party on Twitter this morning.

He wrote: "Delighted to welcome former Labour Cllr Anne Meadows to @Conservatives.”

He said that Cllr Meadows “has been a dedicated councillor in Brighton & Hove since 1994” but claimed she has been “driven out” by alleged antisemitism.

Cllr Meadows was not reselected to stand in her Moulsecoomb and Bevendean ward for Labour in the upcoming May 2019 council elections

Lloyd Russell-Moyle, Labour MP for Brighton Kemptown accused Cllr Meadows of making “a barefaced career move.”

He said: “She wasn't selected to be a candidate for Labour at the upcoming election, so she has betrayed the party for her own self-preservation."

The sun was shining and so pleased to be a part of the welcome to Cllr Anne Meadows into the @Conservatives Party this morning making Conservatives the largest party on @BrightonHoveCC @BHConservatives @KTConservatives @TonyJanio pic.twitter.com/qmEGPlsKGb

— Steve Bell (@SKJBell) February 20, 2019

Cllr Meadows was not reselected to stand in her ward for Labour in the upcoming May 2019 council election.

In 2017 members of the public were banned from a menorah lighting due to alleged threats from anti-Israel activists, in Brighton.

The Brighton and Hove City Council ceremony took place behind closed doors, due to planned protests by pro-Palestinian activists in the city.

During the Labour Party annual conference in Brighton in September the same year, Warren Morgan, the Labour leader of Brighton Council, wrote to the party's general secretary warning that the authority might ban the party from holding future conferences in the city over concerns about antisemitism.

Mr Morgan wrote: "I am very concerned at the antisemitism being aired publicly in fringe meetings and on the floor of conference.

"We have a significant Jewish community in Brighton and Hove, and I met with them only last week to discuss the antisemitism already on our streets, causing them fear and alarm.”