Rosie Duffield quits as Labour MP with attack on Keir Starmer

MP Rosie Duffield Leaves Labour Over Starmer's Hypocrisy

MP Rosie Duffield has announced her decision to leave the Labour Party due to what she describes as the "cruel" policies of leader Keir Starmer and his "hypocrisy" regarding his acceptance of gifts.

In her resignation letter, which was shared in the Sunday Times, the MP for Canterbury criticizes Sir Keir Starmer for his “incredible hypocrisy” in accepting gifts valued at tens of thousands of pounds while eliminating the winter fuel payment and maintaining the two-child benefit limit.

In her letter, she expressed that the "exposure of double standards" following the government change in July has been "astonishing and increasingly unacceptable."

"I can't fully express the frustration that my colleagues and I feel regarding your complete misunderstanding of how you've portrayed us."

Elected for the first time in 2017, Duffield has chosen to leave the party after seven other Labour MPs were suspended for opposing the King's Speech. These MPs voted in favor of a proposal to eliminate the two-child benefit cap.

There are currently 14 independent members of parliament.

In her letter, Duffield expressed her plan to serve as an independent Member of Parliament, stating that her actions will be influenced by the fundamental principles of Labour that she holds dear.

According to The Sunday Times, she holds the record for being the quickest Member of Parliament to resign after a general election in contemporary political history.

The winter fuel payment used to be given to all retirees to assist them with their energy costs. The idea behind this support was that elderly individuals might face greater vulnerability and danger if they were unable to afford sufficient heating.

In July, the government announced that payments would be issued exclusively to individuals with low incomes who qualify for specific benefits.

Labour has faced significant backlash from both within the party and outside it due to their choice to means-test the payments. The Unite union recently secured a non-binding vote at the party's conference, expressing their opposition to this decision. Nevertheless, Labour is resolute in their stance and is unwilling to reverse their position.

The prime minister came under intense criticism after it was revealed that he had received over £16,000 for expenses related to work attire and glasses, along with additional gifts for his wife, from Labour peer Waheed Alli.

The Prime Minister has stood by his decision to accept £20,000 in housing assistance from Lord Alli during the election campaign. This arrangement allowed his son to prepare for his GCSE exams in peace, away from media attention outside their home.

In her letter, Duffield expressed: "The corruption, favoritism, and clear greed are beyond belief. I feel deeply embarrassed by the damage you and your close associates have caused to our once-respected party.”

She stated, "It’s troubling that a wealthy individual would support the Conservative policy of limiting benefits to two children, which keeps many kids in poverty, while at the same time gladly accepting lavish personal gifts like expensive designer suits and glasses that cost more than what most of these families can even imagine. This kind of behavior is not fitting for someone who holds the title of Labour prime minister."

She criticized the prime minister for advancing individuals who lack demonstrated political abilities. She pointed out that one such person was quickly given a role in the shadow cabinet without the typical progression of developing political expertise while serving in the backbenches.

In 2015, Starmer was assigned a position in the shadow home office cabinet only two months after he became an MP. Subsequently, in 2024, he granted junior ministerial roles to several MPs who had recently been elected.

Among them is Foreign Office minister Hamish Falconer, who is the son of Sir Keir's first shadow attorney general, Lord Falconer. Additionally, Liam Conlon, the son of Sue Gray, chief of staff at Number 10, has been appointed a parliamentary aide in the Department for Transport.

Duffield's interactions with prominent members of the party have frequently been tense, particularly regarding her opinions on transgender matters. She has taken to social media to express her stance on these issues.

She thinks there should be safe zones that are off-limits to individuals assigned male at birth, such as shelters for domestic abuse survivors and correctional facilities. She opposes the idea of allowing people to self-identify as transgender in order to enter those areas.

The party had previously put her under investigation after she expressed her approval of a tweet by comedy writer Graham Linehan.

In January 2024, she stated that the party's National Executive Committee fully cleared her of any accusations of antisemitism and transphobia.