File photo: UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer (Picture credit: Reuters) Prime Minister Keir Starmer faced the first resignation in his new UK government on Saturday when lawmaker Rosie Duffield left the Labour Party . Duffield accused Starmer of hypocrisy for accepting over £100,000 in gifts while cutting an annual £300 winter heating payment for about 10 million pensioners . In a letter written addressing the UK PM, Duffield criticised Starmer in her resignation letter for implementing "cruel and unnecessary" policies according to her.
"The sleaze, nepotism, and apparent avarice are off the scale," she wrote. Duffield also highlighted the inconsistency of a leader enjoying expensive gifts while asking others to cut back. "I am so ashamed of what you and your inner circle have done to tarnish and humiliate our once proud party," she stated.
The Labour MP also criticised Starmer's decision to maintain a cap on benefit payments aimed at supporting families with children. She argued that Starmer's acceptance of luxurious gifts was inconsistent with Labour values. "This is entirely undeserving of holding the title of Labour Prime Minister," she added.
As per the news agency AFP, Starmer's acceptance of gifts has caused friction within the party, particularly at the first Labour Party conference since regaining power. Labour had won a landslide election in July after 14 years in opposition, but the mood at the conference was dampened by the ongoing controversy. All gifts accepted b.