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Tuesday, November 18, 2008, 12:25
It is the latest blow to Labour who suffered a series of defections before the local elections in May.
Mr Ingall was elected as ward councillor for Chellaston in 2006.
He has been particularly active on matters regarding climate change and is vice chair of Derby City Council's climate change commission.
He said his decision to leave Labour was because he disagreed with the group over several policies.
He said: "I have felt unhappy with Labour for some time now.
"I disagreed with them over several things like the proposed congestion charging which I was against.
"I have been talking to the Conservatives for several months now and feel I can best serve the people of Chellaston as a member of their group."
Deputy Conservative group leader Harvey Jennings has been talking to Mr Ingall about joining the party since June.
He said: "With three Conservative councillors now representing the people of Chellaston myself and fellow ward councillor Matthew Holmes are looking forward to working with Phil."
Derby's Labour group leader in Derby, Chris Williamson, believes that Mr Ingall's defection was to keep his seat in the 2010 elections because he felt support for the party was low.
"The reason I think he is moving is he told me prior to this announcement that he was concerned that he wouldn't be able to win the seat as a Labour candidate," he said.
"So this is a politically expedient decision to jump ship in an attempt to ensure he has a better chance of electoral success at the next election in 2010.
"It is a high risk strategy because he might find that the political mood has shifted by then.
"I think the people who voted him in as a Labour candidate and those who have supported him in the party will feel a large sense of betrayal."
The defection comes a year after Labour lost councillor Hardial Dhamrait to the Conservatives.
That was followed in January this year by Prem Chera who decided to become an independent councillor but said his main support would be for the Tories. At the last elections he wore a Conservative rosette.
And Amar Nath, a former cabinet member for Labour, also quit the party to join the Tories in February.
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