A Cumberland councillor has resigned from the Labour Party due to the national leadership of Sir Keir Starmer – and the planned cuts to disability benefits.
Mike Hawkins, who represents Mirehouse, is now an independent councillor and said in a statement yesterday that he planned to continue representing the area.
Councillor Linda Jones-Bulman, who represents Cleator Moor East and Frizington, left the Labour Party for the same reason at the end of January.
Coun Hawkins said: “I have resigned my Labour Party membership. Everyone has their limit.
“Unfortunately, and it is with great sadness and regret, that the hard right Labour leadership has finally pushed me to mine, with its decision, announced formally to target the most vulnerable in our society with devastating cuts to support for the sick and disabled people.
“This Tory-style ‘Labour’ government under Starmer, Streeting and Reeves are forcing more Tory-Reform style cuts and austerity onto our already struggling country.
“Under Starmer, Streeting and Reeves, Labour has been forced to move so far away from traditional Labour values, that even for me, a centrist in the Labour Party, who has been a Labour member since John Smith and a Labour councillor since Gordon Brown, I no longer feel welcome.”
He said that the last Labour government had funded public services and made people’s lives better.
He added: “This Labour government lets the rich get richer, while betraying WASPI women, cutting the winter fuel allowance to pensioners, cutting aid to the poorest in the world, and now it’s going after the sick and the disabled.
“It could tax the rich – but it doesn’t. It could bring water and energy back into public ownership, saving us all money on our bills – but it doesn’t. It could use its overwhelming majority in Parliament to transform our country for the better – but it doesn’t.
“So, I’ve reached my limit. I can’t defend this government. I respect most ordinary Labour Party members and councillors locally – they are doing their best now like they did under the Tories, but like I said, everyone has their limit – and after over 30 years of loyal Labour membership, I’ve just reached mine.
“It’s been a privilege to represent my community over the past 15 years and I will continue to do so as an independent with the same values I have always had and supporting my local community of Mirehouse, Hensingham and Corkickle to the best of my ability.”
