A CONTROVERSIAL blogger who took on the Mayor of Barnet in a standards dispute is a surprise candidate for the Liberal Democrats at next May's council elections.

Roger Tichborne, who writes the BarnetEye blog as RogT, is one of the three candidates named to fight the Mill Hill ward seats, along with standing councillor Jeremy Davies and businesswoman and Times Series blogger Kim Checchetto.

Mr Tichborne was a member of the Labour party for more than 20 years, but said recent policy decisions by the government had caused him to change allegiances.

The Mill Hill resident said: “I found I just could not agree with things they were doing, like scrapping the 10p tax rate and the idea to privatise the Post Office.

“The decision to run for the Lib Dems came only in the last month. I met with (Cllr) Jack Cohen the leader and talked to him about it.

“So many people have asked me to stand for council from all sides of the spectrum I feel I would be letting them down if I didn't.”

He hit the headlines in September when he took the Mayor, Cllr Brian Coleman, to the Standards Committee over an email he sent to Mr Tichborne.

The London assembly member was found in breach of the code of conduct for councillors.

The father-of-three and professional musician, who owns a recording studio in Mill Hill said he has no ambitions to stand for Parliament, adding: “I'd rather have a number one record.”

He said he would continue to write his blog if he is elected.