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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Twenty councillors quit Labour in Starmer protest | Twenty councillors quit Labour in Starmer protest |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The group of councillors plan to establish a new independent party | The group of councillors plan to establish a new independent party |
| Twenty councillors have quit Labour in protest at the party's direction under Sir Keir Starmer. | Twenty councillors have quit Labour in protest at the party's direction under Sir Keir Starmer. |
| The councillors - from Broxtowe Borough Council in Nottinghamshire - claimed the party had "abandoned traditional Labour values" and criticised policies such as cutting the winter fuel allowance for some pensioners. | The councillors - from Broxtowe Borough Council in Nottinghamshire - claimed the party had "abandoned traditional Labour values" and criticised policies such as cutting the winter fuel allowance for some pensioners. |
| Council leader Milan Radulovic, who had been a party member for 42 years, is among those walking away from Labour. | Council leader Milan Radulovic, who had been a party member for 42 years, is among those walking away from Labour. |
| A local Labour spokesperson said the decision by some councillors to sit as independent 18 months after they were elected was "incredibly disappointing". | A local Labour spokesperson said the decision by some councillors to sit as independent 18 months after they were elected was "incredibly disappointing". |
| The councillors said they would establish a new independent party, planning to run the borough council as a minority administration in the short-term, but may need support from existing independents in order to keep control. | The councillors said they would establish a new independent party, planning to run the borough council as a minority administration in the short-term, but may need support from existing independents in order to keep control. |
| They claimed 10 of them had been blocked from standing for Labour at upcoming local elections for Nottinghamshire County Council after questioning the winter fuel policy. | They claimed 10 of them had been blocked from standing for Labour at upcoming local elections for Nottinghamshire County Council after questioning the winter fuel policy. |
| The councillors walking away said it was not the Labour Party Sir Keir Starmer promised | The councillors walking away said it was not the Labour Party Sir Keir Starmer promised |
| Radulovic said of the move that he was "deeply saddened" but had been placed in an "impossible position". | Radulovic said of the move that he was "deeply saddened" but had been placed in an "impossible position". |
| "I cannot support and will not support another centrist government intent on destroying local democracy and dictating national policy from a high pedestal," he said. | "I cannot support and will not support another centrist government intent on destroying local democracy and dictating national policy from a high pedestal," he said. |
| He also criticised plans to reorganise local government, which could see district and borough councils scrapped. | He also criticised plans to reorganise local government, which could see district and borough councils scrapped. |
| "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," he 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," he said. |
| The group said 100 local grassroots members had also left Labour. | The group said 100 local grassroots members had also left Labour. |
| Milan Radulovic was a Labour member for 42 years but said he was in an impossible position | Milan Radulovic was a Labour member for 42 years but said he was in an impossible position |
| Broxtowe Labour Councillors - of which there were 26 prior to the announcement - said: "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 have no effect on the commitment of the remaining Labour Councillors in serving our residents. | "These defections have no effect on the commitment 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." | "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." |
| Analysis | Analysis |
| By Hugh Casswell, political reporter, BBC Nottingham | By Hugh Casswell, political reporter, BBC Nottingham |
| Relations between Broxtowe Labour and the national party have been frosty for some time. | Relations between Broxtowe Labour and the national party have been frosty for some time. |
| A row broke out in 2023 over the process to select a parliamentary candidate for the area, and Milan Radulovic has never been shy about speaking out. | A row broke out in 2023 over the process to select a parliamentary candidate for the area, and Milan Radulovic has never been shy about speaking out. |
| Doubtless, some of what has prompted these defections is both parochial and personal in nature. | Doubtless, some of what has prompted these defections is both parochial and personal in nature. |
| But the party may be more concerned that grassroots criticism of government policy extends well beyond the borders of Broxtowe. | But the party may be more concerned that grassroots criticism of government policy extends well beyond the borders of Broxtowe. |
| Get in touch | Get in touch |
| Tell us which stories we should cover in Nottingham | Tell us which stories we should cover in Nottingham |
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