24-03-2025
Veteran councillor quits 'immoral' Labour Party
A highly respected veteran councillor has quit the Labour Party accusing it of "losing its moral compass" under the leadership of Keir Starmer. John Warmisham, who has been a Salford councillor for 34 years resigned his membership last night.
His decision will be a major blow to the local party as well as an embarrassment for the national one. In a letter to Salford's City Mayor, Paul Dennett, explaining his decision his says: "I feel I have no option but to resign from the Labour Party, a party that through this current national leadership has lost its moral compass and no longer represents the communities that it was set up to serve."
Councillor Warmisham, 66, became a councillor in 1991 and went on to hold key posts including chairman of education, then chair of housing and chair of social services. He is currently chairman of the city's licensing and development panel.
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In his letter to Mr Dennett, he adds: "Cutting the welfare benefits to the disabled, the sick, the poor and the vulnerable, whilst committing billions of pounds to arms and supporting wars is immoral, as well as government ministers pushing pensioners, families and children further into poverty.
"This in no way reflects on you or the Labour Group who have stuck and continue to do so, to the socialist principles that the Labour Party was founded on.
"I will continue to serve my current term of office out as an Independent Socialist and represent the people of Pendleton and Charlestown Ward, who I care for very much, in the city I love."
Flying in the face of Labour's national policy to cut Winter Fuel benefit to some pensioners, Salford City Council diverted some of its funds to make sure all Salford people who were entitled to it in the city received it.
Politically Coun Warmisham is on the left of the party, as is Mr Dennett, and the city's MP, Rebecca Long Bailey, who was deputy to former Labour Leader, Jeremy Corbyn.
Councillor Warmisham had already announced that he intended to step down from local politics and not seek re-election in 2026.
Born in Higher Broughton, Salford, Councillor Warmisham, lives in the city, in nearby Broughton Park. He has been a key member of the ruling Labour Group in the city for three decades, but has a reputation for speaking his mind even if it clashes with local or national policy.
His background is steeped in the trade union movement. At age 16, he became a shop steward for apprentices working for the Manchester Direct Works Department. He was a union rep for 16 years.
For 12 years he has served on the European Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, and became leader of the UK delegation. A life-long Manchester United fan, he switched his allegiance to FC United after the Reds were taken over by the Glazer brothers.
