'I will have a stronger voice as an independent' - MP

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."

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.

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.

"I didn’t feel I could represent Canterbury properly within the walls of the Labour party anymore."

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.

"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."

The total number of independent MPs in parliament is now 14.

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