Friday, December 04, 2015
Labour MPs fear backlash after Syria vote
There are lots of reports following Wednesday's vote to commence bombing in Syria of Labour MPs being targeted by anti-war activists. Many of those who voted with the Government now fear that this activity will be stepped up.
The Guardian reports that Jeremy Corbyn is facing calls to consider winding up Momentum, the grassroots group of his supporters, amid fears among Labour MPs that it could be used as a vehicle to plot against those who voted for airstrikes in Syria:
MPs raised fresh questions about the intent of the organisation, which is separate from Labour, after it joined Stop the War in urging people to lobby their representatives against voting for airstrikes in Syria.
Some of those 66 Labour MPs who voted in favour of bombing Islamic State targets have reported bullying and abuse online, with Neil Coyle, the MP for Bermondsey and Old Southwark, reporting one threatening tweet to the police on Thursday.
Deselection of MPs was openly being brought up by visitors to the Facebook pages of grassroots Momentum groups – including for areas that cover pro-airstrike MPs Harriet Harman and Coyle in Southwark, Chuka Umunna in Lambeth, and Heidi Alexander and Jim Dowd in Lewisham – although the national leadership of the group is opposed to this.
Ken Livingstone, a backer of Corbyn and co-chair of the party’s defence review, also gave a radio interview suggesting he would support the ousting of MPs who voted for war. “If I had an MP who had voted to bomb Syria then I would be prepared to support someone who was challenging them, as long as they were good on the other issues,” he said.
I cannot think of a time when the Labour Party has been this dysfunctional.
The Guardian reports that Jeremy Corbyn is facing calls to consider winding up Momentum, the grassroots group of his supporters, amid fears among Labour MPs that it could be used as a vehicle to plot against those who voted for airstrikes in Syria:
MPs raised fresh questions about the intent of the organisation, which is separate from Labour, after it joined Stop the War in urging people to lobby their representatives against voting for airstrikes in Syria.
Some of those 66 Labour MPs who voted in favour of bombing Islamic State targets have reported bullying and abuse online, with Neil Coyle, the MP for Bermondsey and Old Southwark, reporting one threatening tweet to the police on Thursday.
Deselection of MPs was openly being brought up by visitors to the Facebook pages of grassroots Momentum groups – including for areas that cover pro-airstrike MPs Harriet Harman and Coyle in Southwark, Chuka Umunna in Lambeth, and Heidi Alexander and Jim Dowd in Lewisham – although the national leadership of the group is opposed to this.
Ken Livingstone, a backer of Corbyn and co-chair of the party’s defence review, also gave a radio interview suggesting he would support the ousting of MPs who voted for war. “If I had an MP who had voted to bomb Syria then I would be prepared to support someone who was challenging them, as long as they were good on the other issues,” he said.
I cannot think of a time when the Labour Party has been this dysfunctional.
Comments:
<< Home
When spectres of the 1980s like Dave Nellist are manifesting themselves again, Labour supporters should be truly worried.
The nearest parallel is that of the Bevanites in the 1950s, but they never took over the party.
Post a Comment
The nearest parallel is that of the Bevanites in the 1950s, but they never took over the party.
<< Home
