Blunkett: Labour must make seismic shift

Field’s walkout highlights ‘shambles’ of anti-semitism and thuggery, says peer

THE resignation of one of Labour’s longest-serving MPS over anti-semitism must be a “catalyst for seismic change” or the party will risk falling into “decline and irrelevance”, Lord Blunkett warns today.

The former home secretary says Frank Field’s decision to resign the whip highlights the need for a fundamental rethink about the “Corbyn project” as he condemns the Labour leader’s response to the anti-semitism scandal as a “shambles”.

Writing in The Daily Telegraph, Lord Blunkett warns that under Jeremy Corbyn the “bullying and thuggery” of the militant Left during the Eighties has returned, posing a “dangerous” threat to democracy.

Mr Corbyn’s promise of a “new style of politics” has proved to be “anything but”, Lord Blunkett says as he warns the party leader that his response over the next week will determine the “continuity of the existence” of the party.

At least three more Labour MPS said they were considering quitting the party over Mr Corbyn’s links to extremists and previous comments of his that Jewish leaders have described as antisemitic.

In his resignation letter, Mr Field said that he was prepared to rejoin the party if Mr Corbyn showed he was willing to tackle anti-semitism and “thuggery”. However, Labour made clear yesterday that there was “no way back” for Mr Field, who has been an MP for nearly 40 years, by telling him he quit the party when he resigned the whip.

On Tuesday Labour’s ruling body, the National Executive Committee, will vote on whether to accept the internationally recognised definition of antisemitism. If it fails to do so, or waters down the definition with caveats such as a ban on investigations into historic allegations of anti-semitism, the Labour leader has been threatened with open rebellion from his MPS.

Lord Blunkett says: “Frank Field’s decision, and his concerns over both anti-semitism and the behaviour of party members, indicate a deeper malaise. His actions need to be seen as a catalyst for seismic change and a rethink of the so-called ‘Corbyn project’.

“The commitment to Labour as a ‘broad church’, which motivated some of those who nominated Jeremy, has been thrown back in their faces and demonstrated that the so-called ‘new style of politics’ is anything but.

“Quite simply, Labour has to put its own house in order as decisively and speedily as possible.

“What matters for the health of our democracy and the continuity of the existence of the Labour Party, of which I have been a member for 55 years, are the actions taken and the quality of leadership from Jeremy Corbyn and his colleagues over the next seven days.

“Either Jeremy Corbyn can lead a party into gradual decline and irrelevance, or demonstrate that he can lead a party fit for government. The choice is his.” In a sign of deepening

hostility, Mr Field said he was prepared to mount a legal challenge and would use the “best lawyers” he could find. He said: “There are Labour members in the House of Lords who don’t take the Labour whip who are allowed to remain. So why can’t I?”

Asked if he regretted being one of 15 MPS who nominated Mr Corbyn for the Labour leadership in 2015, he said: “The tolerance I showed and hoped for has not been reciprocated. None of us knew what the consequences would be of the £3 membership and the resurgence of the hard-left.”

Mr Field said he was considering triggering a by-election after resigning the whip but has yet to make a decision.

Mike Gapes, the Labour MP for Ilford South, said yesterday that he was “agonising” over whether to stay on in the wake of Mr Field’s resignation.

He said there must not be a “weaselworded caveat” in the Labour Party’s definition of anti-semitism.

A further two Labour MPS are also considering quitting the party.

Lord Blunkett criticises attempts by some of Mr Corbyn’s supporters to deis

select moderate MPS. “It is crucial for the party to get a grip on those who preach fraternity whilst seeking to drive out decent long-standing representatives,” he says. “Those seeking to remove their own colleagues need to be stopped in their tracks.