Labour councillor blasts Starmer's leadership in shock defection: 'No moral compass!'

A furious Labour councillor has blasted Sir Keir Starmer's leadership in a sensational defection - claiming the party has "lost its moral compass" and "abandoned working people". Liam Shrivastava said he had "served, campaigned for and represented" the party for a decade but "cannot in good conscience remain a credible representative of this Labour Party".

In a furious resignation statement, he lashed out at the Prime Minister for slashing winter fuel payments, making swingeing welfare cuts and refusing to scrap the two-child benefit cap. After joining Labour in 2015 because he "wanted to see a change in society", the Lewisham councillor said: "A decade on, the Labour Government has abandoned working people in service of wealthy donors, corporate lobbyists and private equity firms." He also said Sir Keir's warning that Britain was becoming an "island of strangers" - wording similar to that used by Enoch Powell in the 1970s - "legitimises the far-Right politics that exploded during the racist riots last year".

In a post on social media site X, he added: "Labour has lost its moral compass."

He will now represent the New Cross Gate ward on Lewisham council for the Green Party.

Labour has been rocked by several councillor resignations and defections as the party's popularity plunges due to controversial policies.

Earlier this month, Wakefield Council cabinet member Michael Graham called Sir Keir "the worst prime minister of my lifetime" in a scathing resignation statement.

"I've watched as Keir Starmer cosplays as a patriot while failing to put the people of this country first," said Mr Graham.

"His leadership offers no bold vision, no true conviction - only political calculation and hollow rhetoric."

The Prime Minister was also blamed when 20 councillors in Broxtowe, Nottinghamshire, sensationally resigned in January. They said Labour had "abandoned traditional values" under his leadership.