Former Labour MP claims she was bullied out of the party by millionaire barrister Starmer after quitting in anti-sleaze protest

MP Rosie Duffield claimed yesterday she was almost single-handedly bullied out of the Labour party by millionaire barrister leader Sir Keir Starmer.

Ms Duffield, 53, sits as Canterburys independent MP after quitting Labour last September in an anti-sleaze protest over the leadership accepting freebies.

She was also investigated by the party over transphobia claims.

She told a womens festival in Alloa, Scotland: I never thought the party thats supposed to support women like me, who was a Unison union member, was a teaching assistant, was a single mum on benefits, I never thought Id be fighting barristers who run our party now.

She added: Im looking at a man who was a millionaire barrister who almost single-handedly bullied me out of the Labour Party, a working woman.

She added she had cancelled her Unison membership because it passed a motion declaring trans women were women and trans men were men.

Her letter of resignation as a Labour MP condemned the sleaze, nepotism and apparent avarice of Sir Keirs administration. 

Her relationship with the Labour leadership had been fraught over the transphobia allegations.

Ms Duffield, 53, sits as Canterburys independent MP after quitting Labour last September in an anti-sleaze protest over the leadership accepting freebies

Ms Duffield claimed she was bullied out of the party by millionaire barrister leader Sir Keir Starmer 

Her relationship with the Labour leadership had been fraught over transphobia allegations

She was cleared over the claims in January last year but then told of feeling frozen out by the party.

She said yesterday: Were tough but sometimes you go home and you think, these are my values and my beliefs; and it is hurtful because your political party is kind of your family.

Those are your values and things youve grown up to deeply believe. When youre betrayed by that movement, when they ignore you and they dont care whether youre there or not, it hurts.