A former council portfolio holder says he is "appalled" at the appointment of a new cabinet yesterday.

The comments come after leader of Harrow Borough Council Thaya Idaikkadar appointed a new cabinet after he dismissed the previous one last week following a split in the ruling Labour party.

The new cabinet includes five members of Cllr Idaikkadar's new Independent Labour group and two members of the Conservative group as non-executive members.

The former Labour finance cabinet member, councillor Sachin Shah said: “In May 2010 the people of Harrow voted for a Labour Council, and residents will be dismayed that there is now a Tory-backed administration with no democratic mandate from the people.

"I'm appalled by Thaya Idaikkadar's decision to split from the Labour Party, without public support to do so, and form his own independent group, just to remain as leader of the council.

“His actions will have serious consequences for the reputation of the borough.

“I’m extremely concerned to see the new cabinet being brought together with the Conservatives, and the size of the new cabinet member’s workload, which in some cases sees a single councillor take on four policy areas.

“This is not sustainable and shows the people of Harrow are not the top priority of this new Tory-backed administration.”

Yesterday councillor Idaikkadar stressed that the agreement with the Conservative party is not a coalition and the cabinet is truly independent and will make decisions on what is best for the borough.