Sir Keir Starmer has been rocked by a mass exodus of local councillors over Labour’s decision to push ahead with cuts to Britain’s ballooning benefits bill.
The Prime Minister, who already lost a number of leading grassroots politicians following his decision to axe Winter Fuel Payments, sat loyally alongside Liz Kendall on Tuesday as the Work & Pensione Secretary unveiled measures to curb welfare spending by £5billion.
Starmer faced fury from Labour MPs in the House of Commons yesterday, with ex-Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott accusing the Prime Minister of “balancing the books” on the backs of Britain’s poorest and most vulnerable.
Richard Burgon, who was briefly suspended as a Labour MP after rebelling last summer to vote in favour on an SNP two-child benefit cap amendment, later warned the “mother of all rebellions” looms for the Prime Minister.
However, it would appear that Labour is already processing a number of resignations at a grassroots level.
Peter Lowe, who served as Labour leader on Dudley Council, tendered his resignation after being a party member for 41-years.
He said: “I cannot in all honesty be consistent to my principles, or the community I serve if I choose my party over the people I was elected to represent.
“If it’s wrong for the Tories to be attacking the most vulnerable in our community in Dudley, then it must be wrong for my government to be doing the same.
“To be associated with this attack is not something I can be part of. Many of my friends and their families, in addition to my constituents, will be severely impacted by this.”
Doncaster Council, which looks poised to pit Starmer’s Labour directly against a resurgent Reform UK, is also bracing for imminent resignations.
The Corbyn-supporting Momentum group is encouraging its members to remain inside the Labour Party to pile pressure on the Prime Minister.
However, a source declared that it is becoming “increasingly untenable” for local councillors to go out to bat for Starmer over his cost-cutting measures.
