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| Canterbury MP Rosie Duffield will be ‘stronger’ as an independent | |
| (5 months later) | |
| Rosie Duffield resigned the whip as a Labour MP and will sit as an independent | Rosie Duffield resigned the whip as a Labour MP and will sit as an independent |
| Rosie Duffield has told the BBC "nothing will change" when it comes to speaking up for her constituents after resigning the Labour whip. | Rosie Duffield has told the BBC "nothing will change" when it comes to speaking up for her constituents after resigning the Labour whip. |
| The now independent MP, who until Saturday evening had been the Labour MP for Canterbury, Kent, since 2017, said: "My door is still open to all of my constituents." | The now independent MP, who until Saturday evening had been the Labour MP for Canterbury, Kent, since 2017, said: "My door is still open to all of my constituents." |
| In her resignation letter published by the Sunday Times, she said Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer was presiding over "sleaze, nepotism and avarice". | In her resignation letter published by the Sunday Times, she said Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer was presiding over "sleaze, nepotism and avarice". |
| Number 10 are yet to respond. | Number 10 are yet to respond. |
| Ms Duffield resigned citing differences with the party leader, alongside policies such as keeping the two child benefit cap and the removal of the winter fuel payment for some pensioners. | Ms Duffield resigned citing differences with the party leader, alongside policies such as keeping the two child benefit cap and the removal of the winter fuel payment for some pensioners. |
| Speaking to the BBC on Monday, Ms Duffield said: "He [Sir Keir Starmer] knows nothing whatsoever about my constituency. | Speaking to the BBC on Monday, Ms Duffield said: "He [Sir Keir Starmer] knows nothing whatsoever about my constituency. |
| "I didn’t feel I could represent Canterbury properly within the walls of the Labour party anymore." | "I didn’t feel I could represent Canterbury properly within the walls of the Labour party anymore." |
| Ms Duffield has been the MP for Canterbury since 2017 | Ms Duffield has been the MP for Canterbury since 2017 |
| She said the prime minister "doesn’t have a working relationship with his backbenchers", adding: "Sir Keir is very controlling of the party. | She said the prime minister "doesn’t have a working relationship with his backbenchers", adding: "Sir Keir is very controlling of the party. |
| "It disturbs me that the decisions they make are done without listening to constituency MPs. | "It disturbs me that the decisions they make are done without listening to constituency MPs. |
| "I need to stick to my commitments to my constituents and I can do that hopefully better as an independent MP." | "I need to stick to my commitments to my constituents and I can do that hopefully better as an independent MP." |
| Ms Duffield also warned she may not be the last Labour MP to resign the party whip, telling BBC Radio Kent: "There are a lot of colleagues who are unhappy and are on the brink of doing similar things." | Ms Duffield also warned she may not be the last Labour MP to resign the party whip, telling BBC Radio Kent: "There are a lot of colleagues who are unhappy and are on the brink of doing similar things." |
| The total number of independent MPs in parliament is now 14. | The total number of independent MPs in parliament is now 14. |
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