Starmer sticks to his guns over sacked socialist
Left rebels over anti-Semitism stance
SIR KEIR Starmer has dismissed calls by Labour leftwingers to reinstate Rebecca Long-Bailey after she was sacked for sharing an article online containing an allegedly anti-Semitic conspiracy theory.
Members of the Socialist Campaign Group of MPs held a conference call with the Labour leader to protest against Ms Long-Bailey’s dismissal as Shadow Education Secretary.
But while they said the discussion had taken place in a “mutually respectful manner”, they made clear Sir Keir had stuck to his guns, saying there had been a “significant disagreement” between them.
The Labour leader’s office declined to comment on the talks, saying it had been a private meeting.
Ms Long-Bailey was fired on Thursday after refusing to take down a tweet linked to an interview with the actor Maxine Peake in which she claimed US police involved in the death of George Floyd had learned their tactics from Israel’s secret services.
Sir Keir said he had acted in order to rebuild trust with the Jewish community after years in which Labour has been embroiled in allegations of antiSemitism under his predecessor, Jeremy Corbyn.
However, the move infuriated left-wing allies of the former leader, including ex-Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell, who rejected claims Ms Peake’s comments were anti-Semitic and said he stood “in solidarity” with Ms Long-Bailey.
Hemsworth MP Jon Trickett called the move a “provocation” and said: “Keir said he wanted a unity cabinet and he wanted people from across the party.
“If he narrows the gene pool down much further, he will potentially get into trouble.”
Leeds East MP Richard Burgon said Ms Long-Bailey had “an important role to play in Labour’s future and I don’t think she should’ve been sacked for sharing the Independent’s interview with Maxine Peake”.
In a statement following its meeting with Sir Keir, the campaign group said it had also raised the issue of the freedom of party members to speak out on the issue of Israel.
“On the sacking of Rebecca Long-Bailey from the shadow cabinet, it was clear that significant disagreement remains on this point,” the statement said.
“The Socialist Campaign Group of Labour MPs made it clear that Rebecca Long-Bailey should not have been sacked and should be reinstated,” the statement said.
“The imminent annexation of the West Bank by Israel’s government
The Socialist Campaign Group of Labour MPs on the sacking of Rebecca Long-Bailey was discussed and the need for the Labour Party, MPs, party members and supporters to speak out against Israel’s illegal annexation and ongoing human rights abuses by the government of Israel was raised.
“This was a businesslike exchange of views which took place in a mutually respectful manner.”
Following Ms Long-Bailey’s dismissal, Ms Peake acknowledged her comments had been “inaccurate”.
The former Shadow Education Secretary, however, insisted it was not “racist or anti-Semitic” to draw attention to concerns about police tactics.
The speed of Sir Keir’s decision to move against her was being seen as fresh evidence of his willingness to take on the Corbynistas.
Ms Long-Bailey was the favoured candidate of the left when she stood against Sir Keir in the Labour leadership election.
Despite unhappiness among supporters of the former leader, there was no sign of any other left-wing frontbenchers being prepared to resign in protest while Ms Long-Bailey insisted she would continue to work for a Labour government.
“In order to unite the party he’s got to build trust, across the party, trust from the left,” he told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme.
“That’s one of the ingredients necessary if you are going to reunite the party and from what he’s done he’s made it much harder for himself.”
A petition has also been started to urge Labour to reinstate Ms Long-Bailey.
It was clear that significant disagreement remains on this point