MP IAN QUITS OVER CORBYN ‘EXTREMISM’
Austin is latest to join Labour leader exodus
LABOUR’S crisis deepened yesterday as Ian Austin became the ninth MP to quit in a week.
The former minister said he was “ashamed” of Jeremy Corbyn’s failure to deal with allegations of anti-semitism.
His exit comes after eight other Labour MPs along with three Conservatives jumped ship to join The Independent Group.
Mr Austin, inset, confirmed he would not be joining the new organisation, but let rip at his under-fire leader.
The Dudley North MP, whose Jewish adoptive father fled the Nazis, said: “Jeremy Corbyn and the people around him have turned a mainstream party into something very different.
“He has spent his entire political career working with and supporting all sorts of extremists, and in some cases terrorists and anti-Semites.”
He added: “I always thought he was unfit to lead the party and I certainly think he is unfit to lead our country.” Mr Austin claimed many of his ex-colleagues were also desperate to give Mr Corbyn the boot. He continued: “I’m sure lots of Labour MPs are grappling with this issue. They don’t think in their heart of hearts that he is fit to be prime minister either.” The Labour Party said it regretted Mr Austin’s decision, but demanded he call a by-election and fight for his seat. A spokesman said: “He was elected as a Labour MP, so the democratic thing is to resign his seat and let the people of Dudley decide who should represent them.” Deputy leader Tom Watson called it a “serious blow” and added: “It’s also personally hard to see a close friend take a decision of this magnitude.”
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FORMER MP George Galloway claims his family is “living in fear” after he was called a cretin for supporting Jeremy Corbyn.
Galloway messaged the Metropolitan Police asking for their protection after a Facebook post from former BBC manager Neil Masterson, who stated he was not surprised that those “with any sense and decency begin to evacuate the Labour Party”.
Masterson was jailed for 16 months in 2014 for an assault on the Respect MP when Masterson branded Galloway an “antisemitic little man”.