Cllr Dylan Tippetts, Plymouth’s first trans councillor, has today resigned from Labour over its betrayal of trans rights.
In a statement published today, Cllr Dylan Tippetts said:
"The Labour Party nationally has thrown transgender people under the bus and has taken us backwards decades.
"Everyone deserves the right to live peacefully, and the Labour Party continues to deny transgender people that basic right."
The resignation also raises broader concerns about diversity within the Plymouth Labour cabinet.
With both Tippetts, a transgender man, and Chaz Singh, a practising Sikh, having left the party in recent years, critics say Labour’s local leadership is failing to reflect the communities it serves.
The departures highlight ongoing issues around inclusion, representation, and whether the party is creating a welcoming space for minority voices in city governance.
Cllr Dylan Tippetts, who was elected to represent Compton Ward, also confirmed his resignation from the Labour whip and as Chair of the Taxi Licensing Committee.
He said he would serve the remainder of his term as an unaffiliated independent and will not seek re-election next year.
Tippetts transitioned from female to male and has been a vocal advocate for diversity and inclusion.
His resignation follows years of rising concern from LGBTQ+ members about Labour's shifting position on trans rights under Keir Starmer.
Cllr Dylan Tippetts thanked the residents of Compton, Mannamead, Mutley and Hartley Vale for their continued support and offered well wishes to a few respected former colleagues within the Labour group.
Local Labour leaders have not yet commented on the resignation. The party now faces increasing pressure to address concerns from diverse members it once pledged to champion.
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