Labour councillors stop, saying Starmer has ‘deserted their values’ | Politics | News | EUROtoday

Sir Keir Starmer has been blamed for a choice by 20 councillors to stop the occasion saying “Labour have abandoned traditional values” underneath his management.

The extraordinary resolution by the group of Broxstowe Labour councillors in Nottinghamshire has seen a gaggle with a “combined membership of 250 years” stroll out on Sir Keir’s watch.

After forming their very own Browstowe Independents occasion, the enraged councillors posted an announcement on X saying “enough was enough” and cited causes for the exodus together with; reducing the Winter Fuel Allowance, the betrayal of WASPI ladies pensioners, and the Government’s response to “genocide in Gaza”.

The damning assertion continued: “This is not the Labour party we campaigned for. Nor is it the Labour Party that Sir Keir Starmer promised.

“The public have been informed to vote for change and all they acquired was extra of the identical – attacking probably the most susceptible, to guard the pursuits of the wealthy and highly effective.”

Nottinghamshire Live reports the shock announcement was made by longstanding council leader Milan Radulovic and means that Labour is no longer the party of either administration or opposition at Nottinghamshire County Council.

Councillor Radulovic, who has led Broxtowe Borough Council on a Labour platform for over 20 years across several administrations, has jumped ship along with 19 of his fellow Labour councillors.

It means Labour no longer runs Broxtowe Borough Council, having only regained the authority from a state of no overall control at the May 2023 local elections.

The news comes as it was revealed nationally since winning the election in July, Labour has lost 33 council seats in by-elections across England, Scotland and Wales, and gained only six.

Councillor Radulovic said he and his colleagues had not been elected to “blindly observe” government policy.

He told the BBC: “I can not assist and won’t assist one other centrist authorities intent on destroying native democracy and dictating nationwide coverage from a excessive pedestal.

“I believe the concentration of power in the hands of fewer people and the abolition of local democracy through the current proposals of super councils is nothing short of a dictatorship, where local elected members, local people, local residents will have no say over the type and level of service provided in their area.”

Broxtowe Labour Councillors mentioned: “It is incredibly disappointing that some Broxtowe councillors have decided to leave the Labour Party and sit as independents when they were elected on a Labour ticket just over 18 months ago.

“These defections don’t have any impact on the dedication of the remaining Labour Councillors in serving our residents.

“We, together with our Labour colleagues including MPs Juliet Campbell and Alex Norris, will continue to work to make Broxtowe a healthier, greener, safer and more prosperous place for everyone as change begins under this Labour government.”