MPs of all political colours have come out in support of Rosie Duffield after she resigned from the Labour party today with a scathing attack on the Prime Minister.
Just minutes after the Canterbury representative announced she was quitting the party her decision was greeted with overwhelming support.
She blamed her decision on Sir Keir Starmer’s “cruel and unnecessary” policies and the freebies row engulfing him and his party.
Former Conservative MP for Thanet, Lord Craig Mackinlay, was among the first to heap praise on his ex-opponent’s decision.
Posting on X, he said: “Despite different parties and political viewpoints a world apart, we always got on well as ‘frenemies’.
“Great decision Rosie; huge respect to you and best wishes.”
Tonbridge MP Tom Tugendhat, who is in the race to be the Tory party’s next leader, agreed.
He said: “Rosie Duffield is right. In less than three months, Labour’s greed and sleaze has been exposed.
“Keir Starmer promised a government of service, but he’s only serving himself.”
Conservative Sir Roger Gale, who has represented Herne Bay and Sandwich since 1983 said: “As Rosie Duffield’s parliamentary neighbour I can only say that I admire her raw courage in saying what many of her experienced colleagues are thinking but have yet to say.
“In a few short weeks in office Starmer has demonstrated that he is without principle or direction and that self-service is the order of the day.
“I have myself been in the position of having to criticise the leadership of my own party and it is not a happy place to be but we have to stand for what we truly believe in and that is what Rosie Duffield has done.
“She will of course be criticised and vilified but she can stand tall and proud for having done what is right rather than what is expedient.”
Duffield, who has represented Canterbury since 2017 and will now stand as an independent.
She attacked the Labour leader for the “staggering hypocrisy” of accepting gifts worth tens of thousands of pounds while scrapping winter fuel payments.
She added: “How dare you take our longed-for victory, the electorate’s sacred and precious trust, and throw it back in their individual faces and the faces of dedicated and hardworking Labour MPs.”
Harry Potter author JK Rowling showed her support for Duffield, who, like her, has previously received threats for her comments on women’s rights.
She said: “Rosie Duffield, an ex-assistant teacher, single mother and survivor of domestic abuse, won Labour a seat they thought was unwinnable.
“Post-Corbyn, she was returned to parliament with an increased majority. This is how Labour repays her.”
Liberal Democrat MP for Buckingham and Bletchley, Dominic Dyer, also praised Duffield’s strong stance and described her resignation letter as “probably one of the hardest hitting ever sent to a sitting Prime Minister.
He said she spoke for millions of voters.
Adding to the cross-party backing Duffield’s decision has received, Chairman of Reform UK, Zia Yuzuf added: “How dare you take the electorate’s sacred and precious trust and throw it back in their individual faces?
“Rosie Duffield MP’s resignation letter is a must read. Starmer embodies all that is wrong with the Westminster elite. Time for a real alternative..”
Meanwhile, voters described her as “amazing” to stand by her decision.
Sandra Miller said on X: “Rosie, should be so proud of herself. Starmer has shown he does not have the values that we expect from a PM of the UK.
“Rosie speaks for a huge amount of the British people.
“The hypocrisy of Starmer and his ‘mates’ is despicable.”
Anthony Harner added: “We need more MPs to follow suit. The longer the backstabbing Blairites and the Starmeroids stay in government, the more they will carry on with their plan to totally destroy the Labour party.”
David Crabb UK said: “Rosie Duffield has had enough! She’s quitting Labour, slamming the door on their sleaze and greed.
“Finally, someone with the backbone to stand up to the rot within! Here’s the thing, folks: when even their own start jumping ship, you know the ship’s sinking.”
However, some KentOnline readers were quick to point out Duffield had failed to vote on a Conservative bid to block the scrapping of the winter fuel allowance – one of the “cruel” policies she cited in her resignation letter.
