Kirklees councilor Musarrat Khan quits Labor over party’s ‘moral direction’

A Huddersfield Labor councilor has resigned from the party after questioning its “moral direction” under Sir Keir Starmer.

Musarrat Khan, who represents Dalton, is the fifth Labor member on Kirklees Council to leave the party in 2024.

She said she was “disturbed” by the lack of apology for Sir Keir’s stance on Gaza and that welcoming former Tory Natalie Elphicke to the party was “alarming”.

However, Labor said Ms Khan had been suspended from the party on Friday.

A party statement said: “Mus Khan has been administratively suspended from membership of the Labor Party pending an investigation.

“We cannot comment on individual cases in the file as our disciplinary procedures are independent and confidential.”

Ms Khan was on a four-person shortlist to replace Huddersfield MP Barry Sheerman, who has represented the town since 1979.

She shared her resignation letter with Sir Keir, which said: “I am troubled by your lack of apology for your position on the situation in Gaza, which defies the moral and ethical standards expected of a potential Prime Minister.

“Furthermore, your silence on pressing issues such as the NHS and public services is worrying.”

“This raises questions about the party’s moral direction,” she wrote.

Labor lost overall control of Kirklees Council in the recent local elections with no party holding a majority.

With Ms Khan leaving the party, Labor has 30 seats out of 69, but continues to run the council as a minority administration.

This latest defection puts more pressure on the Kirklees Labor group.

The authority continues to face difficult financial decisions as it tries to balance the books like other councils in the country.

With no local elections next year in the borough, there should be a time for the ruling group to have room to make tough decisions without an imminent election.

However, as Labor does not have an overall majority, it will be even more difficult to vote the necessary measures.

Councilors will need to find a way to overcome their differences to work cross-party – and that will require strong leadership.