Corbyn blow as seven MPs leave Labour
SEVEN UK Labour MPs quit the party yesterday to form a new grouping – in the most significant split in British politics for a generation.
Chuka Umunna, Luciana Berger, Chris Leslie, Angela Smith, Gavin Shuker, Mike Gapes and Ann Coffey fired a broadside at leader Jeremy Corbyn as they quit, condemning his stance on Brexit as well as his response to allegations of anti-Semitism in the party.
Deputy Labour leader Tom Watson warned his party to change or face further damaging resignations following the biggest schism since the formation of the Social Democratic Party in the early 1980s. That too was a moderate break-away splinter faction from what was perceived as an overly hardline leftist Labour Party.
Mr Corbyn said he was ‘disappointed’ by the announcement, while shadow chancellor John McDonnell challenged the seven to resign from parliament and fight by-elections under their new Independent Group banner.
Former Commons Foreign Affairs Committee chairman Mr Gapes said he was ‘sickened’ that Labour is now a racist, anti-Semitic party’ and ‘furious that the Labour leadership is complicit in facilitating Brexit’. He warned that a UK government led by Mr Corbyn would ‘threaten national security.’
But Fine Gael’s European Affairs spokesman Senator Neale Richmond yesterday said he does not expect the split to have a major impact on the outcome of Brexit – unless a number of other MPs follow them out the door.
He told the Irish Daily Mail: ‘It doesn’t make that much of a difference, immediately at least. It’s only seven MPs, not enough to sway the vote in a particular way.
‘But it will be interesting to see what happens with Labour MPs who don’t back Corbyn who are in Leave constituencies. Will they follow the others out?’
The Independent Group is due to hold its first formal meeting later this week.
Responding to the resignations, Mr Corbyn said: ‘I am disappointed that these MPs have felt unable to continue to work together for the Labour policies that inspired millions at the last election and saw us increase our vote by the largest share since 1945.’