Rosie Duffield resigns from Labour party

She has resigned as a Labour MP, accusing the Prime Minister of "staggering hypocrisy" and pursuing "cruel and unnecessary policies".

In her resignation letter, Ms Duffield attacked Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's decision to keep the two-child benefit cap and means-test winter fuel payments, as well as condemning his handling of the outcry over gifts given to him and other senior Labour figures.

Her letter said she intended to sit as an Independent MP "guided by my core Labour values".

First elected in 2017, Ms Duffield's decision to quit the party follows the suspension of seven other Labour MPs who rebelled on the King's Speech by voting for a motion calling for the two-child benefit cap to be abolished - and brings the total number of Independent MPs to 14.