Seven Labour councillors resign over treatment of party’s Left wing

Seven Labour councillors have resigned over the party’s treatment of Diane Abbott and former Left-wing candidate Faiza Shaheen.

The politicians, who were members of the Labour’s local branch in Slough, said they had “no option” but to quit, as they claimed the party they once supported is “unrecognisable”.

It comes as Labour has been accused of committing a “cull” of those on the Left while parachuting in moderate candidates ahead of the general election on July 4.

In a joint letter of resignation, the councillors cited Labour’s treatment of Ms Abbott, the veteran Left-wing MP, as a reason for their “disillusionment”, as well as the party’s decision to drop Ms Shaheen as a candidate.

They said: “We have exhausted every party mechanism to ensure our residents’ concerns were heard at both local and national levels.

“In light of these insurmountable barriers, we, the rank-and-file members, are left with no option but to resign. We must stay true to our values and conscience, even if the party we once believed in has abandoned them.”

It follows a major row over Ms Abbott’s candidacy, in which Sir Keir Starmer, the Labour leader, was forced to back down and confirm she was “free” to stand for Labour after Angela Rayner, his deputy, intervened.

Ms Abbott has insisted she will run for the party in Hackney North and Stoke Newington – the seat she has represented for nearly 40 years – despite reports she had been offered a peerage to stand down.

Ms Shaheen, an economist and academic, was selected to be Labour’s candidate in the north-east London constituency of Chingford and Woodford Green.

But she was blocked from standing after she allegedly liked a series of social media posts that downplayed anti-Semitism accusations.

She insisted she did not remember liking one of the posts, which alleged that anyone critical of Israel is “assailed” by “professional organisations” who inflict “non-stop harassment” and “accuse you of anti-Semitism”.

‘Institutional racism within party’

In their open letter of “mass” resignation, addressed to the Labour leadership, the councillors said the treatment of Ms Abbott and Ms Shaheen was reminiscent of “institutional racism” within the party.

They added: “This purging of loyal members in favour of subservient candidates reflects a party more concerned with power than principles.”

They also referenced the war in Gaza, claiming they had been “gagged and silenced” over the conflict since the Hamas terror attacks on Oct 7.

They accused the Labour Party of supporting the Tory Government amid “ongoing humanitarian crises and war crimes”, in what they described as “a shocking betrayal of our core values”.

They added: “The Labour Party we have dedicated over four decades to now stands unrecognisable. The party’s impending victory at the next election underscores the influence of powerful lobbies over our policies, rendering our voices and values irrelevant.”

Asked about the resignations on Tuesday, Sir Keir told broadcasters: “Across the country we’ve got brilliant Labour teams out in every constituency, fighting for votes in this general election.

“We’re in good form, we’re making a positive argument about the choice before the country.

“I’m really pleased that the Prime Minister has called an election because we’ve been waiting for this, we’ve been working for this for a very, very long time.

“It’s our chance to get out, to take our argument to the country and to every single voter about the choice at this election, about more of the same or turning the page and rebuilding with Labour.”

The Labour Party has been approached for comment.