Now the backlash begins
As Corbynistas and far-Left trolls brand them traitors...
MOMENTS after the seven Labour MPs announced their resignation from the party, the backlash began. Jeremy Corbyn-backing groups immediately went on social media to brand them ‘cowards’ and ‘traitors’.
Senior Labour politicians called for the MPs to resign their seats and face by-elections.
But many activists aimed personal – and at times anti-Semitic – abuse at the group, accusing them of keeping the Tories in power by splitting the Left vote.
Chris Leslie’s departure was greeted by a pro-Corbyn user tweeting: ‘Bye Bye B***h.’ Another said: ‘We don’t want your sort.’
Angela Smith was branded a ‘traitor’ and ‘Tory parasite’.
Another Corbyn supporter wrote of Gavin Shuker: ‘You are a disgrace. You do not deserve to be an MP. You **** ing traitor.’
One troll, Dr What, tweeted: ‘Good riddance. Zionist quislings.’
Another, calling herself Louise Lee Corbynista, tweeted of the MPs: ‘They work for Israel. We want a government that works for us.’
One took aim at Chuka Umunna, tweeting: ‘Good riddance and to hell with you, Zionist pimp.’
A pro-Corbyn and pro-Brexit account tweeted: ‘Good riddance to Blairite scum. No place in Labour for Blairites. Get on with it #ChickenChuka. And take the noisy Jew with you.’
Another tweeted about Luciana Berger, saying: ‘Unfortunately, this woman is lying to us all and herself. Using anti-Semitism as a cover for those opposed to Israeli Policy continues to be supported by the MSM [mainstream media] and the British establishment.’
Meanwhile, Young Labour tweeted a lyric from the party’s anthem The Red Flag: ‘Though cowards flinch and traitors sneer, we’ll keep the red flag flying here.’ Many frontbenchers and MPs loyal to Mr Corbyn accused the group of making it easier for the Tories to remain in power. Shadow defence secretary Richard Burgon said: ‘The “Independent” Group isn’t just an attack on Jeremy’s policies. It’s a direct attack on Labour.’ Momentum, the group which campaigns for Mr Corbyn, criticised the MPs’ records on voting for the Iraq War.
Its founder Jon Lansman said: ‘I’m sorry anyone should leave Labour but to do so with no new direction can only be destructive, a lifeline for austerity.’
Frontbencher Jonathan Ashworth tweeted: ‘Sit as independents, vote as independents, fight elections as independents and then independently help the Tories stay in power.’
Shadow housing secretary John Healey told the BBC: ‘This must be dreams come true for Jacob ReesMogg and the hardline Brexiteers because it takes the pressure off Theresa May. It’s a distraction and a diversion less than six weeks before we risk crashing out of
‘Good riddance to Blairite scum’
Europe with no deal in place and, in the end, we may face an election in the coming months and it can only mean one thing, which is more Tory MPs.’
But while shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry branded yesterday’s announcement ‘distracting and divisive’, she warned Labour supporters that abusing or bullying the MPs online would simply encourage more to join their ranks. Others said the MPs should fight by-elections.
Labour MP Lloyd RussellMoyle tweeted: ‘Any MP that resigns the whip to form a new party should resign and trigger a by-election.’ Speaking to the BBC, he told the MPs: ‘History will not forgive you.’
Union bosses also weighed in, with Unite chief Len McCluskey hitting out at the ‘splitters’ who had ‘no stomach for a fight for Labour’s core values’.
But many Labour figures also expressed sadness that the MPs had chosen to quit.
Former leader Ed Miliband tweeted: ‘I deeply regret the decision of my former colleagues to leave Labour.
‘Labour must and will continue to be a broad church.’