Thornberry threatens to go to court over ‘stupid voters’ allegation
EMILY THORNBERRY has threatened to sue a former colleague over allegations that she called another Labour MP’S constituents “stupid”.
The shadow foreign secretary, a potential front-runner to replace Jeremy Corbyn as leader, has consulted lawyers over taking legal action against Caroline Flint, who lost her Don Valley seat in last week’s election.
Ms Flint, who has accused prominent Remain figures in the shadow cabinet of contributing to Labour’s crushing election defeat, on Sunday claimed that Ms Thornberry had told an MP from a Leave-voting seat that she was “glad my constituents aren’t as stupid as yours”.
Hitting back yesterday, Ms Thornberry, who has categorically denied the allegation, warned Ms Flint that unless she withdrew her remarks she would “take it to the courts”.
A spokesman for Ms Thornberry confirmed that her solicitors had written to Ms Flint, warning that they will begin legal proceedings against her unless she apologised. However, when asked about her remarks yesterday, Ms Flint told ITV’S Good Morning Britain that she stood by her comments.
In response, Ms Thornberry told Sky News: “One of my former colleagues came out and said the most extraordinary lies about me. People can slag me off as long as it’s true, I can take it on the chin. But they can’t make up s--about me – and if they do, I have to take it to the courts. I have no idea what’s in her head. All I can tell you is that you can’t go on national television and make up s---, and not expect to be taken to the courts, and that’s what I’m afraid I’m having to do.”
It came as Rebecca Long-bailey, the shadow business secretary, and Angela Rayner, the shadow education secretary, were rumoured to be preparing to run as Labour’s leader and deputy leader.
Labour insiders last night claimed that the two Mancunian MPS, who share a flat in London together, have agreed not to stand against each other and will instead seek to unify the party’s warring factions. Both have been singled out by John Mcdonnell as potential leaders and are likely to secure the backing of the party’s major trade union backers, along with members determined to keep the Corbyn project alive.
However, questions remain as to whether their association with the outgoing leadership will damage their standing among Labour moderates determined to take back control from the hard-left.
Clive Lewis, a shadow Treasury minister and Corbyn ally, has also indicated that he could run for leader. Lisa Nandy is also tipped for the leadership.
Separately, condemnation of Mr Corbyn’s leadership continued to mount yesterday, as Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of
‘All I can tell is that you can’t go on national television and make up s--- and not expect to be taken to the courts’
London, dismissed as “ludicrous” the suggestion that Labour had won the argument on key issues such as austerity, corporate power and climate change.
In a scathing assessment of the Labour leader, Mr Khan claimed that the party had failed to put forward a “credible candidate for prime minister or a believable set of priorities for governing”.
Writing for the i newspaper, he added that Mr Corbyn’s failure to tackle Labour’s anti-semitism crisis was “devastating and shameful” and that he should quit “sooner rather than later”.
Mr Corbyn was also facing a fullscale revolt from Labour staff last night, after they threatened to go on strike unless two of his most senior aides are removed before January.
Labour insiders have confirmed that the plans were being drawn up amid calls for Mr Corbyn to sack Seumas Milne, his director of communications, and Karie Murphy, his former chief of staff, who was seconded to the party’s headquarters to oversee the election campaign.
The pair have been repeatedly criticised over their running of Mr Corbyn’s
office in recent months and their refusal to step down has incensed staff and MPS.
The decision to place them on permanent contracts, which is likely to require pay-offs if they are asked to step down, has also contributed to the growing backlash among party staff.
Staff are now discussing holding a vote on potential strike action at their next union branch meeting in January.
“We’re not going to call for Jeremy’s head, but Seumas and Karie need to go,” a Labour staff member told The
Daily Telegraph.
“The people who are behind this election are still here while MPS are being made redundant immediately, my friends who work for them will be next week, whereas they are still being paid.”
A second source said that moderate MPS were preparing to demand their removal at a meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party this evening, when Mr Corbyn addresses his MPS for the first time since the election defeat.
Moderate MPS are also threatening to set up an independent inquiry into the party’s election defeat in a bid to prevent Jeremy Corbyn’s allies absolving themselves of blame.
Last night, a senior party insider told this newspaper that John Cryer, the chairman of the Parliamentary Labour Party, will put forward the plans for a probe, independent of the leadership, later this week.
Mr Cryer will recommend that Vernon Coaker, a veteran MP ousted last Thursday, lead the inquiry.
Meanwhile, a row over the timetable for the forthcoming leadership contest continued to escalate, amid fears that Mr Corbyn’s allies could attempt to shorten the registration window for new members and supporters hoping to elect a moderate leader.
Last night, a prominent Labour figure claimed that the pro-corbyn officials were “desperately keen to try to restrict voting rights” because the current party membership is likely to back a hard-left candidate.
The Labour Party rule book states that the cut-off point for new members eligible to vote should be “no less than two weeks” after the timetable for the contest is announced.