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".

More than 20 Labour councillors have resigned, citing concerns over Sir Keir Starmer ’s leadership. Most of the group sit on Broxtowe Borough Council in Nottinghamshire and the decision was announced on X by an account operating with the handle @BroxtoweLabour. The page has since been rebranded as Broxtowe Independents.

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.

Six months since winning a historic landslide in July, Labour has lost 33 council seats in by-elections across England, Scotland and Wales, and gained only six.

The newly-formed Broxtowe Independents said "with a heavy heart" that they can "no longer be in a party that has abandoned traditional Labour values under Sir Keir Starmer's leadership".

An independent group of councillors have expressed anger after a new party was formed by ex-Labour party members under a similar name. On Thursday, 20 members of Broxtowe Borough Council in Nottinghamshire,