Six councillors have resigned in 24 hours from the Norfolk Labour Party, leaving the party and two councils in disarray in the latest disaster for the party’s leader Sir Keir Starmer.

As a result, Labour has now lost its majority on Norwich City Council and its official opposition status on the county council.

Five of the shock resignations were announced during a meeting at City Hall on Tuesday with another councillor announcing hers the following morning.

Those to have quit are county councillors Emma Corlett (deputy Labour group leader) and Maxine Webb and Norwich City councillors Cate Oliver, Karen Davis, Ian Stutely and Rachel Everett, all of whom represent the same ward.

All will continue to represent their wards as Independents.

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The resignations come as a significant number of Labour councillors resign across the country in protest at Labour leader Keir Starmer’s views and inaction on the Israel-Gaza conflict.

But these have their roots in a decision by the local party to stop Mr Stutely from standing in next year’s local elections. 

His Labour colleagues refused to select another candidate which forced Labour’s National Executive Committee (NEC) in London to impose its own candidate.

The party has not given a reason for Mr Stutley’s deselection but he is a critic of the City Council Labour cabinet, recently launching an attack on their decision to allow a massive redevelopment to not pay a tax used to support community projects.

He said his Town Close colleagues could “never consider themselves progressive” if they let the developer, Weston Homes, off paying £2.3million in community infrastructure levy (CIL) cash which goes towards facilities like playgrounds, schools, libraries and allotments. 

The four councillors have issued an open letter setting out some of their reasons for leaving Labour, levelling blame at the national party.

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It said: “We no longer consider the current national or local Labour Party matches the overriding principles that guide our work as your councillors. 

“We have tried to achieve our aims as part of the Labour Party but have been frustrated by the national party’s obsession with suppressing debate and the local party’s prioritising of corporate developments over what’s best for communities and the quality of services they receive.  

“There are some wonderful people within the local Labour Party but too often their actions are overshadowed by a small clique of people who show no discernible Labour values and who fail to utilise their power and influence for the benefit of Norwich residents.” 

Labour remains the biggest party on the City Council but votes will now be extremely tight. The resignations also take Labour from the second largest party in the county council to the third, behind the Liberal Democrats.

Steve Morphew, leader of the Labour group at County Hall, said: “The people of Norfolk and Norwich facing a cost of living crisis and many other problems don’t want to hear about internal squabbles in the Labour Party. Nor will they be impressed by anybody who tries to distract us from looking after our county.

“That was what we were elected to do and what Labour councillors will continue to do.  Inevitably losing two members affects our ability to influence decisions but Labour county councillors will remain focussed on the needs and interests of Norfolk come what may.

“We are not going to be side-tracked by narrow party issues that make no difference to people’s lives during tough times.”

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