Stockport Labour councillors quit party, saying Keir Starmer is ‘sleepwalking country to Reform government’

Two Labour councillors from Stockport, Joe and Rosemary Barratt, have resigned from the party, criticising Keir Starmer’s leadership for leading Labour towards a potential majority Reform government. Joe, who served as deputy leader, expressed deep disillusionment after over 15 years in Labour, citing a lack of vision and conviction for change. The duo has formed a new group called the Bredbury and Woodley Independents and may run a candidate in upcoming council elections against Labour and the Lib Dems.

Joe accused Starmer of squandering the party’s previous majority and turning it into a group of indecisive middle-managers. He believes Labour must look to effective local leaders, like Andy Burnham, to reconnect with constituents and rejuvenate trust in politics. Meanwhile, Stockport Labour is seeking a new deputy following this loss, as the local party confronts a shifting political landscape. The council, currently under Lib Dem control, is facing potential fragmentation with the rise of independent groups ahead of the May 2026 elections.

Read the full article at Stockport Nub News