Cambridge city councillor Dave Baigent has announced his resignation from the Labour Party after more than six decades of membership, declaring he will continue to serve his Romsey ward as an independent voice.
In a move that marks the end of a 62-year association with Labour, Cllr Dave Baigent – a veteran activist, former firefighter, academic, and prominent local campaigner – revealed that he is leaving the party with “a heavy heart and deep sorrow.”
Baigent described the decision as “one of the most painful” of his political life, saying that Labour had lost its moral compass and abandoned the principles that first drew him into politics.
“I have dedicated over six decades to the Labour movement through its highs and lows because I believed it stood for justice, compassion and equality,” Baigent said. “But I’ve watched with dismay as the party has turned its back on the most vulnerable in our society.”
From NHS Failures to Gaza
While Baigent expressed longstanding concerns over the Labour Party’s direction under Keir Starmer’s leadership – including the failure to pledge serious NHS reform and the refusal to scrap the controversial two-child benefit cap – it was the party’s stance on Gaza that proved the final straw.
“What can I do, watching innocent, starving people being slaughtered in their thousands, other than take a stand?” he said.
“The Labour leadership’s complicity in what is being recognised by many international experts as a genocide is indefensible. The silence and justifications, whilst continuing to trade and sell weapons parts to Israel, shames us all.”
Baigent’s decision comes as Labour continues to face internal criticism for its refusal to demand a permanent ceasefire and for ongoing arms exports to Israel despite the escalating humanitarian disaster in the region.
“I cannot, in good conscience, remain a member of a party that has abandoned its moral compass so completely,” Baigent continued. “Nor one that has destroyed the influence of its members by stifling serious, democratic debate.”
An Independent Voice for Romsey
Despite cutting ties with Labour, Baigent confirmed that he has no intention of stepping down from his council role and will continue to serve Romsey as an independent councillor.
“Romsey has a proud history of standing up for social justice and international solidarity,” he said. “I no longer believe I can represent my constituents in good faith as a Labour member. That’s why I will continue to serve the people of Romsey as an independent councillor – free to listen to their views and speak to them without constraint.”
Baigent’s departure is likely to reverberate throughout local politics. First elected to Cambridge City Council in 2014 and re-elected in both 2018 and 2024 with strong majorities, Baigent has long been a key figure in shaping transport, housing, and climate policy in the city.
He currently serves as vice-chair of the Planning Committee and sits on several key bodies, including the Cambridge Joint Area Committee and the Greater Cambridge Partnership Executive Board (as a reserve member). He also holds the position of lead councillor for transport and is a core member of the council’s Active Travel Steering Group.
Among his most high-profile campaigns has been his support for restrictions on private vehicle access to Mill Road Bridge – a controversial but increasingly popular measure aimed at improving air quality and safety on one of Cambridge’s most iconic thoroughfares.
A Lifelong Commitment to Public Service
Before entering politics, Baigent served for more than 30 years as a firefighter, later earning a PhD in social science and lecturing in academia. His deep commitment to social justice has also been evident in his local community work.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, he chaired the committee behind Romsey Mutual Aid, coordinating hundreds of volunteers to deliver food, prescriptions, and other essentials to vulnerable residents. He also supported council initiatives to house rough sleepers and helped develop local food hubs to combat food poverty.
Baigent has also played a leading role in Romsey’s public realm improvements – from greening projects and street furniture to campaigning for public access to Romsey Lakes.
His policy interests extend to housing and inequality, supporting the construction of council homes and linking employment growth to housing provision. He has been a vocal backer of the city’s Net Zero 2030 goals, including campaigns for zero-emissions taxis, renewable energy investment, and insulation upgrades.
“From local housing and transport to global human rights and the climate emergency, I will continue to stand with residents – not party lines – on the issues that matter.”
Reaction and Context
The resignation is another indicator of growing fractures within Labour’s grassroots over its stance on Gaza. In Cambridge, Labour has traditionally enjoyed strong support, particularly in wards like Romsey with high student, academic, and activist populations. However, recent events have tested that loyalty.
Baigent’s exit may signal a broader crisis of confidence in Starmer’s leadership, especially among the party’s older left-wing base, many of whom joined Labour during the post-war or Bennite eras.
For a man who joined Labour in his teens and never once left during decades of internal battles, from the rise of New Labour to the Corbyn years and beyond, stepping away was clearly no small step.
Looking Ahead
Cllr Baigent will now serve out his term as an independent until at least 2028, following his successful re-election earlier this year. Whether other Labour councillors in Cambridge will follow his lead remains to be seen.
One thing is certain: Baigent’s departure signals not just the end of an era, but also a warning – that for some lifelong activists, political loyalty cannot override moral obligation.
“There comes a point when silence becomes complicity. And I will not be complicit.”
