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Lib Dem trio become Conservatives (BBC, 12/29/06)

Three Liberal Democrats who stood at last year's general election have joined the Conservative Party.

Richard Porter, who fought Camberwell and Peckham, and John Barstow, who stood at Tonbridge and Malling, have switched parties.

Tariq Mahmood, a physician who contested Uxbridge, also moved, saying the Tories "could make the NHS better".

Tory party chairman Francis Maude said the trio's move marked "a tremendous end to a great year for the party".