Published: February 23, 2012

LABOUR and the Lib Dems have traded the first blows in the Camden Town and Primrose Hill by-election – even before they’ve announced their candidates for the poll.

Lib Dem leader Councillor Keith Moffitt said resigning councillor Tom Neumark had been “virtually invisible” in his final months on the council and should have quit sooner.

“I think they are trading on his nice-guy image,” he said. “In reality, the ward has been represented by the other two councillors.

“He had already left his job and left his flat before Christmas but they’ve dragged out his resignation until now.”

The by-election will not be held until May 3, the day of the London and Mayoral elections.

Cllr Neumark is moving to the United States where his wife has been working.

He joked this week that he could not have been invisible at the Town Hall because he handed Cllr Moffitt a doughnut as a present during a scrutiny panel meeting last month. He said he had only missed one council meeting and that the allegations were unfair.

“I’m confident with my position,” he added.