British lawmaker Rosie Duffield resigned from the Labour Party on Saturday, citing Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s stance on child poverty and his acceptance of donations for personal benefits,

including free clothing and hospitality.

In a resignation letter shared with The Sunday Times, Duffield accused Starmer of engaging in "sleaze, nepotism, and apparent avarice," stating, "I am so ashamed of what you and your inner circle have done to tarnish and humiliate our once proud party."

Starmer, a former top prosecutor before entering Parliament, announced on September 20 that he would cease accepting donations to cover the cost of clothing for himself and his wife.

Despite leaving the Labour Party, Duffield confirmed she would continue to represent Canterbury, a city in southeast England, as an independent lawmaker. She has been a Member of Parliament since 2017 and opposed Starmer’s leadership bid in 2020.

Starmer led the Labour Party to a resounding victory in the July 4 elections, but recent opinion polls suggest his personal popularity has dropped significantly since assuming office.

Duffield was also among 53 Labour lawmakers who abstained from voting on Starmer’s proposal to eliminate a £200 ($267) annual fuel subsidy for 10 million pensioners earlier this month.

Additionally, she criticized Starmer for not reversing the Conservative Party's decision to end extra welfare payments for families with more than two children.

While Duffield has previously clashed with Starmer over policies concerning transgender rights and their impact on women, she clarified to The Sunday Times that these issues did not influence her decision to resign. Photo by Chris McAndrew, Wikimedia commons.