Woodcock quits Labour amid disciplinary case
The MP John Woodcock has quit the Labour party, saying in a resignation letter that a disciplinary case was rigged against him, and that Jeremy Corbyn “would pose a clear risk to UK national security as prime minister”.
Woodcock, the MP for Barrow and Furness since 2010, is a longtime and fervent critic of Corbyn’s leadership. In April, the party suspended him amid an investigation into claims he sent inappropriate text messages to a female former aide. He has vehemently denied the claims.
In a resignation letter to Corbyn yesterday morning, Woodcock said he was quitting Labour “following your refusal to appoint an independent investigator to rule on my disciplinary and in the light of clear evidence that the process has been manipulated for factional purposes”.
Woodcock said he would continue to serve his constituency as an independent MP, fight for local jobs, defend the shipyard and push for a strong defence policy.
He added: “I now believe more strongly than ever that you have made the Labour party unfit to deliver these objectives and would pose a clear risk to UK national security as prime minister.”
Woodcock, a former No 10 aide to Gordon Brown and shadow minister, said Labour was “no longer the broad church it has always historically been”.
He said: “Antisemitism is being tolerated and Labour has been taken over at nearly every level by the hard left, far beyond the dominance they achieved at the height of 1980s militancy.”
Woodcock was suspended over accusations he sent inappropriate texts and messages to the former staff member between 2014 and 2016.
In an open letter to his constituents after the claims were reported, Woodcock said: “I do not accept this but know the complaint must be thoroughly and fairly investigated.” But in his resignation letter Woodcock said he believed “senior party figures” were determined to rig the disciplinary system to ensure he was not able to stand for re-election.
He wrote: “It is not credible to expect a fair hearing in these circumstances. I strongly deny the charge made against me but am committed to the complaint being thoroughly and fairly investigated. I will now seek to refer myself to an independent process so the case can be properly heard.”
Relations between Woodcock and Corbyn’s team have been tense for some time, especially after the MP began the 2017 election campaign by posting a video message to constituents saying he wanted to be re-elected for Labour but “will not countenance ever voting to make Jeremy Corbyn Britain’s prime minister”.
Labour is understood to reject Woodcock’s claim that he was being unfairly treated over the complaint, saying the investigation took the same form as with anyone.