What's happened
Twenty Labour councillors in Lancashire, including those from Pendle Borough Council, Nelson Town Council, and Brierfield Town Council, have resigned over the party's national leadership. They accuse the Labour Party of wanting to control what councillors say and unfair selection processes.
Why it matters
The mass resignation of these councillors highlights internal strife within the Labour Party, with accusations of control and unfairness from the national leadership. This event could impact the party's image and unity, especially ahead of the upcoming local elections. It also raises questions about the party's direction and treatment of local representatives.
What the papers say
The Independent reports that the councillors accused Sir Keir Starmer and the national leadership of using 'aggressive bullying tactics' and preventing them from standing for elections. The Guardian highlights the councillors' claims that the party wants to control what they say and suggests unfair selection processes. BBC News provides insight into the shared administration between the Liberal Democrats and Labour-turned-independents at Pendle Council following the resignations.
How we got here
The Labour councillors in Lancashire resigned after claiming that the national party leadership, under Sir Keir Starmer, no longer reflects their views and has been controlling local representatives. This follows a similar incident in Burnley where 11 councillors quit the party over Starmer's decision not to push for a ceasefire in Gaza. The resignations raise concerns about the party's internal dynamics and treatment of its members.
Common question
More on these topics
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The Labour Party is a centre-left political party in the United Kingdom that has been described as an alliance of social democrats, democratic socialists and trade unionists.
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Sir Keir Rodney Starmer KCB QC MP is a British politician and former lawyer who has served as Leader of the Labour Party and Leader of the Opposition since 2020. He has been Member of Parliament for Holborn and St Pancras since 2015.
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Lancashire is a ceremonial county in North West England. The administrative centre is Preston, while Lancaster is still the county town.