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Labour loses 20 councillors in Starmer protest

(Photo by Chris Radburn - Pool/Getty Images)

All is not well in Labourland. Now it transpires that 20 councillors have quit Sir Keir Starmer’s party in a rather extraordinary protest at the direction of the party under the new Prime Minister. Those involved will now sit as independent councillors in Broxtowe Borough Council in Nottinghamshire. Dear oh dear…

The disillusioned lot have even discussed the establishment of a new independent party after losing faith in Starmer’s army, with some claiming Sir Keir’s crowd had ‘abandoned traditional Labour values’ and blasting winter fuel payment cuts. The BBC notes that council leader Milan Radulovic was driven to leave the party, despite being a Labour member for 42 years, over recent policy decisions by the PM. The group have also claimed that as many as ten of their lot had been blocked from standing for the party at the looming local elections after pushing back on the winter fuel policy. So much for healthy debate, eh?

In a scathing statement, council leader Radulovic fumed about the Starmtroopers:

I cannot support and will not support another centrist government intent on destroying local democracy and dictating national policy from a high pedestal.

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Steerpike

Steerpike is The Spectator's gossip columnist, serving up the latest tittle tattle from Westminster and beyond. Email tips to steerpike@spectator.co.uk or message @MrSteerpike

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