Keir Starmer humiliated as Labour volunteers ‘leave in droves’ as they’re told ‘f*** off’

The Labour Party is facing a growing crisis as volunteers are reportedly leaving in large numbers, frustrated with the party’s leadership and policies under Sir Keir Starmer.

Just eight months after Labour’s landslide victory in the 2024 General Election, enthusiasm among activists has plummeted. What was once a wave of support, with people eager to help with leafleting and door-knocking, has now turned into a trickle, with only a “handful” of volunteers willing to continue their efforts.

One Labour member from the south of England told The i Paper that local group chats are seeing members leave “in droves” every time a call goes out for canvassers.

This is a stark contrast to last year, when dozens of volunteers would eagerly take to the streets, sometimes even being turned away due to the high turnout. A recent request for help with leafleting saw an alarmingly low response, with the source blaming the decline on dissatisfaction with Labour’s policies, such as benefits reform, the decision not to compensate Waspi women, and cuts to pension support.

The former campaigner admitted they no longer feel comfortable defending these policies on the doorstep. “I don’t want to go on the doorstep and defend winter fuel cuts or NICs [national insurance contributions] going up. If people were angry about that, I’d end up agreeing with them,” they said.

In the north of England, the situation is no better. A Labour councillor revealed that grassroots support has significantly declined since July, with many locals unwilling to defend the government’s decisions. The councillor also noted a rise in support for Reform UK, Nigel Farage’s party, though some interactions with Reform supporters have been hostile, with locals telling her to “f**k off.”

Reform UK is gaining momentum in areas like Shropshire, where Joseph Robertson, a prospective candidate, claims there is an “incredible amount of interest” in the party. He said the local branch is close to having 1,000 members, with many new volunteers being people who had never been involved in politics before.

Another Labour councillor in the north of England confirmed that door-knocking volunteers are becoming harder to find, describing it as “definitely a problem.” They noted that since Sir Keir took over, people are more focused on criticizing him and Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, rather than helping with campaigns. The councillor added that volunteer numbers have dropped significantly compared to the 2017 and 2019 elections.

This growing discontent among Labour’s grassroots supporters highlights the challenges the party faces in maintaining its momentum. With volunteers leaving and Reform UK gaining ground, Labour’s leadership will need to address these issues quickly if they hope to retain public trust and support.