Twenty councillors quit Labour and say Starmer has abandoned party's values

Twenty councillors at a local authority in Nottinghamshire have quit Labour, saying the party has "abandoned traditional Labour values" under Keir Starmer's leadership.

- Jessica Murray

The move means Labour has lost overall control of Broxtowe borough council, which it gained in 2023.

Those defecting include the council leader, Milan Radulovic, who had been a party member for 42 years.

In a statement, the councillors who will now sit as part of a new party, Broxtowe Independents said: "It is with a heavy heart that we can no longer be in a party that has abandoned traditional Labour values under Keir Starmer's leadership."

They were particularly critical of the cut to the winter fuel allowance, the maximum bus fare rise, and the plans to scrap two-tier county and district councils, which are to be merged to create unitary authorities.

Radulovic said: "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," said Radulovic.