Concerns over Keir Starmer sees Laurie Davies quit Labour

Councillor Laurie Davies, who has been a Labour Party member for more than seven years, said it was a devastating decision to make.

But the Stroud Slade councillor says she has watched Keir Starmer’s leadership with increasing concern and frustration at seeing the “lack of policy” to help those most affected during the cost of living crisis and climate emergency.

She feels Labour’s current policies will not solve the problems of people she sees suffering in her area.

“I have been a member, employee and/or councillor for over seven years and this is a devastating decision to come to but one that I know is right for me and my little family," she said in a statement on Facebook.

“I see people that suffer in my council ward and in my work in a community centre every day that Labour Party policy won’t solve.

"I refuse to sit by and represent a party that no longer represents me or the people that need it most.

"I will now sit as an independent for the rest of my term and I will not be seeking re-election for the district council.”

This is the latest in a series of defections from the Labour group at Ebley Mill.

Labour has gone from leading the council with 15 councillors in coalition with the Greens and Liberal Democrats to being out of power and sitting alongside the Tories in opposition with just with just five group members in just under a year.

As a result the Green Party group has become the largest of the alliance and Labour councillors voted for a Green councillor to lead the administration.

SDC has since been led by a cooperative alliance of the Green, Independent Left, Community Independent and Liberal Democrat groups.

The political makeup of the authority is now 19 Conservatives, 14 Greens, four Community Independents, four Independent Left councillors, four Labour members, three Liberal Democrats, two Independents and one Labour and Co-operative councillor.

Labour has not responded to requests for comment.