LONDON, Dec 11: In a rare setback to Britain’s ruling party, a backbencher in the Commons abandoned it on Monday to join the Liberal Democrats, the political group largely consigned to the sidelines of politics here.

Paul Marsden, MP, left the New Labour after reports of physical and verbal assault surfaced over his opposition to the bombing of the Afghans. He had, more than a month ago, angered his premier and his colleagues alike by calling for a parliamentary debate over the government’s Afghan policy.

The debate was never held. Instead, what Mr Marsden got was a serious dressing down at the hands of his party whips. He was also allegedly assaulted by fellow Labour MPs.

Mr Marsden has been combating every inch of the way the treatment meted out to him. He has addressed peace demonstrations both in London and outside of it. And he has made public, through articles in tabloids as well as broadsheets, the way his colleagues have treated him.

The more he fought, the more his partymen resented him, say analysts. They are now convinced that he would never be given a party ticket at election time. The analysts are of the view that Mr Marsden had no option but to leave the New Labour.