Corbyn There’s no place for abuse in our movement
Jeremy Corbyn has insisted there is no place for abuse in the Labour Party – after 44 female MPs urged him to take action over bullying and intimidation.
At a leadership rally in Salford yesterday, Corbyn told his supporters: “We have to be very disciplined.
“As I have made it very, very clear many times before, I don’t do any personal abuse of anybody at any time. None of that has any place in our party or our movement.
“I know people are angry about actions that have been taken but where we have disagreement in our party we settle it through democratic means – no coups, no intimidation, no abuse.”
Corbyn’s comments came after a letter from female MPs hit out at his “inadequate” response to the abuse they faced.
They wrote: “Rape threats, death threats, smashed cars and bricks through windows are disgusting and totally unacceptable in any situation. We expect swift action against those who commit such acts.”
At the same Salford event, Shadow Justice Secretary Richard Burgon hit back at the MPs.
He compared the portrayal of Corbyn’s supporters with the way striking miners had been demonised in the 80s.
Burgon said: “I am not, and others are not, going to stand by and see every single one of you portrayed as the striking miners were – as thugs, brickthrowers, bullies and misogynists.
“It is vitally important that we respect each other with our different views, as we do. But I tell you this, MPs need to respect party members as well.”
Tensions flared up after a huge vote of no confidence by Labour MPs and a mass walk-out by the Shadow Cabinet triggered a leadership challenge less than a year after Corbyn was backed by 60 per cent of party members.