Labour MP ‘forced to quit by hard-Left’
A SENIOR Labour MP quit the Commons yesterday amid claims she was forced out by hard-Left activists in her constituency. Heidi Alexander stood down to take up a new post working for London’s Labour mayor Sadiq Khan. Her departure, after a series of clashes with party leader Jeremy Corbyn, will trigger a by-election in the south London constituency of Lewisham East, where she had a massive 21,123-vote majority at the general election last year. The move followed fresh speculation about Mr Corbyn’s future, with one of his closest backers, hard-Left Momentum founder Jon Lansman, openly suggesting he could be replaced within six months. Senior Tories seized on her resignation as fresh evidence of division in Labour ranks. Party chairman Brandon Lewis said: “This is more proof Labour are too divided to deliver on their promises.
“This also highlights a complete lack of faith in Jeremy Corbyn and his leadership. The remaining moderates left within Labour will now rightly be concerned that they are next on Momentum’s list.”
Former shadow health secretary Ms Alexander, 43, quit to become deputy mayor for transport. She will replace deputy mayor Val Shawcross, who is stepping back from full-time public life after 18 years at the Greater London Authority.
Earlier, in a Politico website interview, Mr Lansman said Momentum had to be ready to find a replacement for 68-year-old Mr Corbyn.
Mr Lansman added: “He’s incredibly fit and well today but who knows if he will be in six months’ time.”