Gunnersbury Councillor cites Tory divisions as a distraction from the job serving local residents.
The Conservative Group on Hounslow Council went into meltdown at last night’s Annual Meeting of the Council, as another of their councillors defected to Labour in as many years.
Cllr Ranjit Gill, who was first elected as the Councillor for Gunnersbury in 2018, joins Cllr Kuldeep Tak, Councillor for Feltham North, who also defected to Labour last year.
In an open letter to residents, explaining his decision, Cllr Gill cited Conservative divisions as a distraction from the real job of serving local people.
He also described a situation within the Tory Group where:
“Unfortunately, not all members are treated equally or given the opportunity to contribute fully. Despite talk of unity, the reality has often been disheartening. In contrast, I’ve found the Labour administration open, helpful, and genuinely focused on solutions.”
In 2022, Chiswick elected their first Labour councillor since 1998. Cllr Amy Croft, who represents Chiswick Riverside, was last night elected Mayor of Hounslow – a sign of this Labour administration’s commitment to making sure Chiswick residents get proper representation on the Council.
At last year’s General Election, Chiswick chose Andy Slaughter to be their Labour MP. Now Chiswick has another popular, hardworking Labour councillor who will work alongside the MP to help deliver for residents.
Meanwhile, Hounslow’s Tory Group is now down to just eight members – enough people to fit comfortably inside a Toyota Estima.
Welcoming Cllr Gill to the Party, Council Leader Shantanu Rajawat said:
“We want to offer a really warm welcome to Ranjit, a dedicated Councillor who has put serving residents above silly squabbles and petty parochialism.
“We have spoken together about our shared plans to make Chiswick – and the borough as a whole – a thriving economic and cultural hub. Together, we want a borough that is greener, cleaner, safer and fairer.
“We want to be an administration for every part of this borough. In Chiswick, that has meant investing in Chiswick’s culture and heritage, such as our partnership with Chiswick House. It means backing local businesses to the hilt and cutting red tape to allow the local markets to thrive. It includes brightening up our green spaces – such as the improvements we are making to Gingko Corner. And it means cracking down on crimes against our streets and communities, such as fly-tipping and antisocial behaviour.
“With Ranjit joining the Hounslow Labour team, we’ll be able to do all this and more – making sure that Chiswick voices are properly represented on the Council.”
This is Cllr Gill’s open letter to residents, in full:
“Dear Resident,
After careful thought, I’ve made the decision to leave the Conservative Party and join the Labour Party.
Over two terms as a Councillor, I’ve worked hard for the people of Chiswick and Hounslow. But the internal divisions within the Conservative group have made it harder to do what really matters – getting things done for local residents.
Unfortunately, not all members are treated equally or given the opportunity to contribute fully. Despite talk of unity, the reality has often been disheartening. In contrast, I’ve found the Labour administration open, helpful, and genuinely focused on solutions.
My priority has always been – and remains – the people I represent. The best way I can serve them now is by working within a team that shares my values and delivers results. That’s why I’m joining the Labour Party.
Thank you to everyone who has supported me so far. I look forward to continuing to represent our community with energy, integrity, and compassion – now as part of the Labour team.”