ONE of Haringey's most recognised councillors has announced his resignation from the Labour Party.

Former Haringey mayor Councillor Sheik Thompson, who represents Tottenham Hale ward, said his decision had been "a long time coming" and was not because he had been deselected by his party.

His departure puts Labour's position of power in a precarious position following Cllr Brian Haley's defection to the Liberal Democrats last month.

Labour holds only 29 seats, one of which is held by Mayor Councillor Bernice Vanier, whose post is supposed to be non-partisan but she can vote if a motion goes down to the wire.

If she refrained from voting, Labour councillors' votes would be evenly matched if Lib Dem councillors, the sole Conservative councillor Alan Dobbie and Cllr Thompson joined forces.

And there is now a narrow margin of just three seats between Labour and the Lib Dems.

The balance of power means the attendance of each Labour councillor will be vital at this month's budget meeting.

Cllr Thompson has always proved to be somewhat of a loose cannon in the chamber, voting in line with his conscience instead of toeing the party line.

He said being an independent will give him the power to be a true voice for the underprivileged groups in the borough, such as youth and the elderly.

In a letter to outgoing chief executive Dr Ita O'Donovan, Cllr Thompson said: "The Labour Party I have known and supported for a lifetime is no longer there today from a national to local constituency level.

"Particularly since 1997, the party has gradually deteriorated beyond all recognition of its founding tenets and characteristics."

Cllr Thompson said it had been a long and hard struggle to represent the people in his ward against the current attitude of the Haringey Labour group.

He added: "As you know, my personal motto is, 'performance with integrity over slavish loyalty'."

Councillor Robert Gorrie, leader of Haringey Lib Dems, said: "This is clearly a Labour council in meltdown - a group who can't and won't work together for the good of residents, and who remain hamstrung by their own failure to provide real change for residents.

"The election in May can't come soon enough."

Labour councillor, Joe Goldberg, said: "Cllr Thompson was not selected as a Labour Party candidate for Tottenham Hale.

"This was a democratic decision taken by local party members living in the ward. Democratic processes often produce results that are not to the liking of everyone. We are the only party to maintain this level of democracy for Council candidate selections and I believe it keeps us closer to communities we seek to serve."