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.
Sir Keir Starmer
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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.”
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Labour MP Richard Burgon is warning the Prime Minister about the 'mother of all rebellions'
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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.
Starmer staved off challenges posed by previous mass resignations, including more than 20 in Nottinghamshire over axing Winter Fuel Payments.
Israel’s war in Gaza also sparked a backlash, with Labour losing councillors from Oxford to Blackburn and Oldham to Burnley.
However, there are growing concerns that Labour could struggle on May 1 without the enthusiastic support of its core campaigning force.
Liz Kendall outlined changes to the benefit systemPAElectoral Calculus is only forecasting Starmer to lose around 50 wards in the 2025 Local Elections.
However, it is also suggesting that Reform UK could pick up Doncaster, ending Labour’s 50-year grip on the Yorkshire town.
The Prime Minister continues to defend the welfare announcement, which includes freezing incapacity benefits until 2030, lauding his reforms as “moral”.
A Labour spokesman said: “Labour inherited a broken welfare system from the Conservatives, which risked a generation of young people being written off and millions of people who want to work not getting the support they need.”
“Labour will deliver a social security system that is fit for the future. One that is fairer, sustainable and that provides vital support to those who need it most.”
