A HUDDERSFIELD Conservative has left the party and joined Labour.

David Heathcote announced this afternoon that he was leaving the Tories following comments by leading Conservative Chris Grayling.

The shadow home secretary said earlier this month that he could understand bed-and-breakfast owners who wanted to ban gay people from their premises.

Mr Heathcote, of Birkby, had been a key part of the Conservative campaign team in the crucial marginal seat of Colne Valley.

Read more tomorrow online and in the Examiner paper.