A LABOUR Councillor has announced he will be standing down at the next election, and criticised Keir Starmer’s leadership when making his announcement.

Richard Dunbar represents the Thornton and Allerton Ward, and is also the Council’s LGBT+ champion.

Yesterday he took to social media to announce that after almost eight years as a Councillor he would not be running for re-election in May 2022 - and took a swipe at the Labour leader, calling for him to stand down.

Cllr Dunbar grew up on the Buttershaw estate, and became a community worker and volunteer before setting his sights on local government.

Since his election in 2014 he has been an outspoken member of the Labour group, and Bradford Council's official LGBT champion.

He has spoke out on issues such as problem gambling.

Cllr Dunbar was up for re-election in the next round of Local Council elections in May, but has said he will not be contesting his seat.

He will, however, remain a Labour Councillor until then.

Cllr Richard Dunbar looks to raise foodbank funds by Christmas Day

Making the announcement he said: "I have been in this position for nearly 8 years and at no point have I taken it for granted. I have used my position to try and better the lives of those I represent and stand firmly against injustice in Bradford and across the world.

"It therefore gives me no joy, to announce that I intend to stand down as your Councillor after my current term comes to an end in May 2022.

"I have arrived at this decision following some significant changes in my personal life (all good) which for the time being I am unable to share but which would make it very difficult to carry on as a Councillor.

"I need to assure you that this was by no means an easy decision to make."

He went on to slam the current Conservative government, adding: "I believe passionately in the power of local government to transform people’s lives but this has been made all the more difficult under the Tories and their austerity agenda that has systematically attacked local authorities for the past 11 years.

"They should also be held to account for their ongoing racist implementation of the hostile environment policy and also for their catastrophic mishandling of the Coronavirus crisis. I am sure a truly independent inquiry will lay this bare."

But he also had equally harsh words for the leader of his own party - who has recently come under fire from the left of the Labour group.

Cllr Dunbar said: "The last 17 months have been a real challenge for everyone but I must say I am deeply disappointed in the performance of the leader of the official opposition.

"For all the talk of levelling up and providing ‘new leadership’ it pains me to say that all we have had is an attack on party democracy and no policy programme that gives local communities and the country at large the hope it so desperately needs.

"I think the time has come for Keir Starmer to consider his position.

"For me this has never been about one man. But it is about ideology and what we fundamentally stand for as a party.

"When people are openly saying they no longer know what Labour stands for then it is time for action to be taken. Will Keir put his own interests ahead of the Party and the country at large? I will not leave Labour-I will stay and I will organise for us to be much better than we are at present."

The national Labour office declined to comment on Cllr Dunbar's criticism of the party leader.