Chris Williamson: Corbyn ally quits Labour frontbench as shadow fire minister

Derby North MP attracted controversy for calling for council tax hikes for wealthy homes

Chris Williamson has resigned from Labour's frontbench (UK Parliament)

One of Jeremy Corbyn’s close allies has stood down from Labour’s frontbench after calling for a council tax hike on the most valuable homes.

Derby North MP Chris Williamson said he was quitting his role as shadow fire minister - where he led some of the party’s response to the Grenfell Tower fire - so that he could campaign on a “broader range of issues”.

His departure came days after he suggested radical proposals to increase council tax by up to 100 per cent for Band D to H properties to generate more funding for town halls, which he admitted was not Labour policy.

Party sources suggest his resignation was a mutual decision but his ideas are understood to have raised eyebrows from Labour colleagues. The Conservatives also mocked up an image featuring the MP and the message “I want to double your council tax”, posting it on social media.

Mr Williamson said in a statement: “I will be standing down from my role with immediate effect so that I can return to the backbenches, where I will be campaigning on a broader range of issues.

“I will continue to loyally support the leadership of Jeremy Corbyn from the backbenches and hope to be a voice for the party’s members.”

Responding to the news, the Labour leader said: ”I am grateful for Chris’ work on the frontbench, particularly on fire safety following the appalling Grenfell Tower Fire.

“I know that on the backbenches, Chris will be a strong campaigner on a range of crucial issues as well as serving his constituents with dedication.”

Under his plans, council tax would be frozen for properties in Bands A to C, with a progressive rise after that leading to a 20 per cent increase for Band D homes valued between £68,000 to £88,000, and a 100 per cent hike for Band H ones worth more than £320,000.

Mr Williamson told the Huffington Post: “It’s not a panacea, it’s a response to a terrible situation. I think it’s an argument that could be won.

“This is not Labour party policy, it’s an idea I came up with at a local level and it’s got a little bit of traction in other parts of the country. It’s a reaction to an emergency that local government has been placed in.”

A long-time ally of Mr Corbyn, the Derby North MP has previously come under fire from his own colleagues for suggesting women-only train carriages would help curb sexual assault rates.

He also spoke out against US sanctions on Venezuela when Mr Corbyn faced pressure to condemn socialist president Nicolas Maduro’s regime for attempting to assume nearly unlimited powers and detaining opposition figures.