Labour has lost its majority on yet another council after four Norwich city councillors resigned from the party in disgust at the direction in which Keir Starmer has dragged it.
The councillors are Karen Davis – also a former parliamentary candidate for the party – cabinet member Cate Oliver, Ian Stutely and Rachel Everett. Emma Corlett, until now the deputy Labour group leader at Norfolk County Council, has also resigned her membership.
A statement issued by three of the councillors, who all represent the same ward, was not specific about the reasons, beyond ‘national and local’ issues:
After long and careful consideration we have made the heartbreaking decision to leave the Labour Party and become independent councillors.
There are many reasons, but in essence we no longer consider the current national and local Labour Party matches the overriding principles that guide our work as Town Close councillors.
We will relentlessly focus on standing up for Town Close residents and our work in the community that makes a difference. We will be making no further comment at this time.
Labour has recently lost Burnley and Oxford councils after councillor resignations – and is wobbling in the London borough of Newham, with the Independents now the largest opposition group, after two landslide by-election wins and a resignation. The borough has also seen a string of senior elected party officers resign their positions and membership – and anger among residents over the high-handed and abusive behaviour of the Labour-run council.
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