Labour’s Left warns: Don’t purge us, we will have our say in new government
LABOUR left-wingers last night vowed that bids to “purge” them from the party will fail – and warned they will demand a say in any government led by Sir Keir Starmer.
There was fury this week over the treatment of Diane Abbott, the first Black female MP, who was apparently blocked from standing in next month’s election.
On Friday, Labour leader Sir Keir bowed to pressure and confirmed she could still be a candidate.
His coolness towards her was seen as part of a deliberate attempt to force supporters of ex-leader Jeremy Corbyn from the party.
But Labour moderates, as well as figures on the Left, are warning that Sir Keir may need the support of Corbynites if he does become Prime Minister next month.
A source said: “It’s not true that the Left has been marginalised. Far from it.”
A shadow minister warned Sir Keir would need the support of the Left if he became Prime Minister with a small majority.
They said: “The Labour Left will then have the whip hand and they will have the power. They will decide what legislation goes through or doesn’t. Every vote is going to be on a knife edge.”
The shadow minister insisted there is “no way on God’s green earth” that Labour will enjoy the type of overwhelming majority that opinion polls are predicting.
Labour insiders say the Socialist Campaign Group of left-wing MPS, a body
that includes veterans such as former Shadow Chancellor John Mcdonnell and rising stars of the left such as Zarah Sultana, will continue to be a “significant bloc”.
A Labour candidate on the Left said: “If it’s a hung Parliament or a small majority, then the leadership will need the support of the Socialist Campaign Group.”
Meanwhile, anger at the treatment of Ms Abbott, the former Shadow Home Secretary, continues to be expressed across the party. One candidate seeking re-election as an MP said: “We are in a really dark place.the party is being ripped apart.”
She was just one of a number of leftwingers targeted this week.
Corbynite Lloyd Russell-moyle was suspended by the Labour Party, making him
ineligible to defend his Brighton Kemptown seat, and pro-palestine academic Faiza Shaheen was dropped as Labour’s candidate for Chingford andwoodford Green.
People close to the leadership, such as Luke Akehurst, a member of Labour’s National Executive Committee, have meanwhile been confirmed as Labour candidates.
Mr Akehurst is Secretary of Labour First, which opposed Mr Corbyn, and will stand in the safe Labour seat of North Durham.
Josh Simons was selected for the Labourheld seat of Makerfield. He is Director of Labour Together, a think-tank close to the leadership, co-founded by Morgan Mcsweeney, Sir Keir’s campaign director.