UK lawmaker quits Labour Party citing PM Starmer’s ‘hypocrisy’ over freebies

The new government of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer reeled from its first resignation Saturday, as lawmaker Rosie Duffield quit the Labour Party, accusing him of “hypocrisy” over his acceptance of gifts.

In a blistering resignation letter, Duffield denounced Starmer for pursuing “cruel and unnecessary” policies.

“The sleaze, nepotism and apparent avarice are off the scale,” she wrote, after it emerged earlier this month that Starmer had accepted more than £100,000 (US$134,000) in gifts and hospitality while cutting an annual £300 (US$400) winter heating payment to some 10 million pensioners.

“I am so ashamed of what you and your inner circle have done to tarnish and humiliate our once proud party.”

Duffield said the “hypocrisy” of a leader enjoying expensive free clothing and outings while asking others to tighten their belts was “staggering”.