Rajan-Seelan's move from Labour to Conservative highlights internal divisions within Brent Labour, as the party's infighting and deselections undermine efforts to serve residents, opening opportunities for rival parties.
A Brent councillor, Rajan-Seelan, has defected from the Labour Party to the Conservatives after being deselected by Labour for the upcoming local elections. This move underscores the ongoing chaos within Labour’s local ranks, a party increasingly fractured and out of touch with the needs of local residents. Once again, Labour’s internal infighting and lack of strategic direction are evident, with their focus seemingly more on internal disputes than delivering tangible results for communities.
In September, Labour’s regional branch in London barred eight sitting Brent councillors, including Rajan-Seelan, from standing in the elections scheduled for May 7 next year. Such dismissals highlight Labour’s failure to maintain a coherent and united front, revealing a party excessive consumed by internal power struggles rather than addressing the real concerns of Brent’s residents. Rajan-Seelan’s decision to leave the party rather than serve out his current term as a Labour representative signals the deep disillusionment and disconnect that now pervades Labour’s local leadership.
Prior to his defection, Rajan-Seelan sought to join the Liberal Democrats, demanding a particular ward in Alperton. The Liberal Democrats, however, rejected his conditions, exposing their own lack of strategic clarity and willingness to accommodate personal ambitions over local priorities. Virginia Bonham-Carter, Chair of Brent Liberal Democrats, criticised Labour’s internal chaos, claiming that the party is more preoccupied with infighting than delivering results for residents—highlighting the failure of Labour’s local leadership to serve Brent’s communities effectively. Meanwhile, the Conservative Party stands ready to capitalise on Labour’s disarray, presenting themselves as a credible alternative that could bring stability and a focus on real community issues.
Rajan-Seelan reportedly demanded a specific ward in discussions with the Liberal Democrats but was disappointed when his request was denied. When approached about his switch to the Conservatives, he remained silent, perhaps sensing that his move is more opportunistic than principled.
The London Labour Party reaffirmed that Rajan-Seelan was not selected as a candidate for the next election, emphasizing their supposed achievements like delivering “affordable homes,” investing in infrastructure, and supporting residents during the cost-of-living crisis. Yet, these hollow promises ring false in a borough plagued by neglect and mismanagement. Labour’s commitment to “improving youth services” and “recycling efforts” cannot obscure the fact that their incompetence has left Brent residents feeling abandoned.
Meanwhile, Brent Labour continues to stumble amid internal discord and deselections, a clear sign of their inability to unite around a common purpose. Their failure to deliver genuinely meaningful improvements for residents reflects a party in decline—more focused on internal power struggles than on improving people’s lives. The Conservatives in Brent will undoubtedly see Rajan-Seelan’s defection as a political boost, exposing Labour’s weakness and their inability to connect with the community’s needs. The rejection by the Liberal Democrats of his personal ambitions further illuminates how local party politics are driven more by internal disagreements than by a genuine commitment to delivering effective governance for Brent’s taxpayers and residents.
Source: Noah Wire Services
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative is recent, with reports of Rajan-Seelan's defection from the Labour Party to the Conservatives emerging in late October 2025. The earliest known publication date is 27 October 2025, when 'Wembley Matters' reported his resignation from the Labour Party. ([wembleymatters.blogspot.com](https://wembleymatters.blogspot.com/2025/10/breaking-wembley-central-councillor.html?utm_source=openai)) Subsequent reports on 28 October 2025 noted his appearance as an Independent on the Brent Council website. ([wembleymatters.blogspot.com](https://wembleymatters.blogspot.com/2025/10/ex-labour-councillor-rajan-seelan.html?utm_source=openai)) There is no evidence of recycled or republished content from low-quality sites or clickbait networks. The narrative is based on recent events, with no significant discrepancies in figures, dates, or quotes. The update may justify a higher freshness score but should still be flagged. ([wembleymatters.blogspot.com](https://wembleymatters.blogspot.com/2025/10/breaking-wembley-central-councillor.html?utm_source=openai))
Quotes check
Score:
9
Notes:
The narrative does not contain direct quotes, indicating a high level of originality. The absence of direct quotes suggests that the content is potentially original or exclusive.
Source reliability
Score:
6
Notes:
The narrative originates from 'Wembley Matters', a local blog that reported on Rajan-Seelan's resignation from the Labour Party on 27 October 2025. ([wembleymatters.blogspot.com](https://wembleymatters.blogspot.com/2025/10/breaking-wembley-central-councillor.html?utm_source=openai)) While the blog provides timely information, its reliability is uncertain due to the lack of verifiable credentials or affiliations. The absence of an official announcement from Rajan-Seelan or the Conservative Party regarding his defection raises questions about the accuracy of the report. ([wembleymatters.blogspot.com](https://wembleymatters.blogspot.com/2025/10/ex-labour-councillor-rajan-seelan.html?utm_source=openai))
Plausability check
Score:
7
Notes:
The narrative reports on Rajan-Seelan's defection from the Labour Party to the Conservatives, a claim that is plausible given the context of recent political developments in Brent. However, the lack of official confirmation from Rajan-Seelan or the Conservative Party, as well as the absence of coverage by other reputable outlets, raises concerns about the veracity of the claim. The narrative lacks specific factual anchors, such as direct quotes or official statements, which diminishes its credibility. The tone and language used are consistent with typical political reporting, and there is no excessive or off-topic detail unrelated to the claim.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): FAIL
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The narrative reports on Rajan-Seelan's defection from the Labour Party to the Conservatives, a claim that is plausible given recent political developments in Brent. However, the lack of official confirmation from Rajan-Seelan or the Conservative Party, as well as the absence of coverage by other reputable outlets, raises concerns about the veracity of the claim. The narrative lacks specific factual anchors, such as direct quotes or official statements, which diminishes its credibility. The tone and language used are consistent with typical political reporting, and there is no excessive or off-topic detail unrelated to the claim. Given these factors, the overall assessment is 'FAIL' with a 'MEDIUM' confidence rating.
