A LONG-standing Labour Party activist has defected to Ukip.

Owais Rajput, who had campaigned in the Bradford East area, said: “After 23 years’ activism in the Labour Party and recent soul-searching, I have concluded the Labour Party is working against the grassroots.

“All main three political parties are working from ‘top to bottom’, which serves to stifle public debate, and they no longer consider the needs of local people.

“There is no longer any trust in the three main parties by the local communities.”