Twenty Labour councillors have quit the party in protest at its direction under the leadership of Sir Keir Starmer, accusing the prime minister of having "abandoned traditional Labour values".

Twenty councillors have quit Labour in protest at the party's direction under Sir Keir Starmer. The councillors - from Broxtowe Borough Council in Nottinghamshire - claimed the party had "abandoned traditional Labour values" and criticised policies such as cutting the winter fuel allowance for some pensioners.

Group on Nottinghamshire authority accuse Government of ‘destroying local democracy and dictating national policy’

Sir Keir Starmer has been blamed for a decision by 20 councillors to quit the party saying "Labour have abandoned traditional values" under his leadership.The extraordinary decision by the group of Broxstowe Labour councillors in Nottinghamshire has seen a group with a "combined membership of 250 years" walk out on Sir Keir's watch.

Twenty borough councillors in Broxtowe, Nottinghamshire quit in protest at Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour leadership.

Labour has lost control of one of its key Nottinghamshire councils with just months to go until the local elections after 20 people quit the party. A shock announcement by longstanding council leader Milan Radulovic also means that Labour is no longer the party of either administration or opposition at Nottinghamshire County Council.