‘Emotional’ decision to disaffiliate because Labour ‘no longer represents our needs and desires’

BFAWU general secretary Sarah Wooley said the union disaffiliated from Labour because the party no longer represents the “needs and desires” of members.

Speaking to Politics.co.uk in Brighton, she said decisions like sticking with £10 per hour as a minimum wage rather than pushing for £15 per hour means “the party feels so far removed from where are our members are, and where they need their party to be.”

Wooley criticised Labour leader for Keir Starmer for standing on a “one movement” pledge, when in reality “that was never the plan.”

She said there was plenty of emotion in the room about the decision to leave, adding: “It wasn’t an easy decision for any of us.”