Key Points
- Cllr Rajan-Seelan, a Brent Labour councillor for Wembley Central, has defected to the Conservatives after being barred by Labour from running in next year’s local elections.
- According to reporting by Grant Williams for MyLondon, Rajan-Seelan previously attempted to join the Liberal Democrats by “demanding” a specific ward in Alperton.
- A text exchange leaked to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) revealed that his request was rejected by Brent Liberal Democrats, who said “seats are not given away like sweets.”
- Brent Liberal Democrats Chair, Virginia Bonham-Carter, confirmed that the party had held discussions with Rajan-Seelan but “decided quickly that he wasn’t acceptable” as a candidate.
- The Labour Party confirmed his deselection was part of a wider regional decision that saw eight Brent councillors dropped ahead of the May 2026 local elections.
- Brent Conservatives confirmed his defection, though the council website still lists him as Independent pending paperwork.
- Labour defended its record in Brent, highlighting its achievements in housing, climate policy, and youth services.
- The defection adds to a recent pattern of Labour councillor resignations in London, following suspensions and defections in Kensington and Chelsea and West London authorities.
A deselected Brent Labour councillor has defected to the Conservatives, after unsuccessfully attempting to secure a place with the Liberal Democrats in what party sources described as a “demanding” effort to obtain a specific ward seat.
Why did Rajan-Seelan leave Labour?
As reported by Grant Williams of MyLondon on 31 October 2025, North London Cllr Rajan-Seelan, who represented Wembley Central ward, was one of eight councillors deselected by Labour’s London regional branch in September.
The Labour Party had confirmed that these councillors would not be permitted to stand in the 2026 Brent local elections scheduled for 7 May 2026, citing efforts to refresh its slate and “deliver the strongest possible team for residents.”
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.”
The spokesperson further defended Brent Labour’s governance, stating that under Labour leadership, the council had “delivered one of the highest numbers of genuinely affordable homes in London,” invested heavily in regeneration projects, supported residents through the cost-of-living crisis, and taken “ambitious steps towards becoming a net zero borough.”
Did Cllr Rajan-Seelan try to join another party first?
According to Grant Williams’ reporting, before defecting to the Conservative Party, Rajan-Seelan had reached out to the Brent Liberal Democrats, seeking to represent them in Alperton ward.
A message shared with the LDRS by a source from the Liberal Democrat group appeared to show him expressing frustration that his request was rejected. He was told, “seats are not given away like sweets.”
In correspondence cited by MyLondon, Rajan-Seelan acknowledged his approach to the Lib Dems, saying:
“I had demanded a specific ward, but they weren’t able [to] offer that.”
How did the Liberal Democrats respond?
In a statement to the LDRS, Virginia Bonham-Carter, Chair of Brent Liberal Democrats, said the party had indeed spoken to Rajan-Seelan but quickly decided not to proceed.
“Whilst the party did have conversations with Cllr Rajan-Seelan about joining, we decided quickly that he wasn’t acceptable to us, as he could not meet our expectations,” Bonham-Carter told MyLondon.
She criticised Labour’s internal issues in Brent, adding:
“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.”
She further positioned the Liberal Democrats as a constructive alternative, saying the party’s focus was on “cleaner streets, safer neighbourhoods, and better services,” while accusing Brent Labour of being “too busy fighting itself rather than serving the people it’s meant to represent.”
What is Rajan-Seelan’s new political status?
Brent Council’s official website currently lists Rajan-Seelan as Independent, but the Brent Conservatives have confirmed his defection and said it is only “pending final paperwork.” MyLondon reported that the local Conservative group had been approached for comment but had not issued a statement prior to publication.
Despite his silence after confirmation of the defection, Rajan-Seelan had earlier defended his right to explore “other political avenues,” citing frustration with Labour’s handling of internal candidate selection.
No public comments have yet been released by the local Conservative leadership welcoming him to the party.
How does this defection fit into a wider trend?
Rajan-Seelan’s move is the latest in a series of defections and suspensions affecting Labour councillors across London.
In reporting by MyLondon’s democracy desk, similar episodes in Kensington and Chelsea Council and West London boroughs have highlighted ongoing tensions between Labour councillors and regional party authorities.
For instance, in October 2025, MyLondon reported that a West London Labour councillor was suspended over allegations of “working with Reform UK,” while another defection to the Conservatives was recorded just weeks earlier.
Party insiders quoted in those stories described a “climate of uncertainty” stemming from Labour’s intensive pre-election candidate vetting process.
Political analysts interpret these shifts as signs of internal reconfiguration ahead of both local and national elections in 2026.
Several deselected councillors have gone public with complaints of “factionalism” and “unfair internal processes,” though Labour officials maintain the moves are part of “routine candidate screening.”
What is happening inside Brent Labour?
Brent Labour has faced internal disputes for more than a year, following the regional executive’s decision to centralise candidate selections. According to MyLondon, councillors affected by the deselection described feeling “deflated, depressed, or angry.”
However, the party leadership maintains that its local governance record is strong.
In its statement to the LDRS, Labour emphasised achievements during its administration, including:
- Delivery of new and affordable housing.
- Major investment in roads and town centre regeneration.
- Expanded youth and recycling initiatives.
- Continued fiscal support during the cost-of-living crisis.
The spokesperson concluded:
“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.”
Could Rajan-Seelan’s move impact Brent politics?
Political observers have noted that defections often carry more symbolic than numerical weight at council level.
However, Brent is traditionally Labour-dominated, and repeated internal fallouts may test the party’s capacity to maintain cohesion heading into next year’s elections.
Analysts quoted in previous MyLondon features suggested that multiple resignations could reinforce a narrative of “instability and discontent within local Labour branches,” potentially benefiting smaller parties like the Liberal Democrats or Greens, as well as the Conservatives in marginal wards.
While Cllr Rajan-Seelan’s switch may not immediately alter decision-making at Brent Council, it introduces uncertainty in voter sentiment across northern constituencies, particularly in areas such as Wembley Central and Alperton, which have seen shifting political allegiances in recent cycles.
