London Labour councillors quit party over 'Gaza and anti-immigration rhetoric' and defect to Greens

Labour councillors in east London have defected to the Greens accusing Sir Keir Starmer’s party of “abandoning its moral compass”.

The three Barking and Dagenham councillors will now form the first political opposition to Labour in the borough in over a decade.

Moin Quadri, Victoria Hornby and Faruk Choudhury said they had become uncomfortable with their former party “refusing to take a principled stand on Gaza” and “adopting divisive anti-immigration rhetoric”.

They also accused Labour of “supporting cuts that leave vulnerable families without support” and “failing to act decisively on the cost-of-living crisis that is hitting every household”.

In a joint statement they said: “This is not a step we take lightly, but one rooted in our duty to serve the people of Barking and Dagenham with honesty, fairness, and courage.

“We have given decades of combined service as councillors, committee members, and Mayors.

“We have worked hard to represent our residents faithfully. But we have watched as Labour has turned its back on the people it claims to serve.

“Locally, residents are facing rising pressures on the cost of living while services are declining.

“Roads are unsafe, waste collection unreliable, housing neglected, and crime and anti-social behaviour are rising. Meanwhile, the local Labour Party has failed to uphold transparency, accountability, or basic fairness within its own ranks.

“Nationally, Labour has abandoned its moral compass.”

New Green Party leader Zack Polanski welcomed his new councillors in Barking and Dagenham (Green Party)

It comes as support for as support for Labour in the capital continues to slump.

Earlier this year, Lewisham councillor Liam Shrivastava and Haringey councillor Mark Blake on blamed what they described as the party’s shift to the right under the Prime Minister for their defections to the Greens.

Labour also lost another London council by-election last month as the party continues to deal with backlash over how it has handled the war in Gaza.

The Lib Dems stormed to victory in the poll for the West Hampstead seat on Camden Council on August 28.

The ward is in former Treasury Minister Tulip Siddiq’s constituency but the borough also contains the Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s Holborn and St Pancras Parliamentary seat.

London Labour was contacted for comment.