There have been reports of bullying, intimidation and homophobia in the branch
The Wallasey Constituency Labour Party has been suspended following reports of bullying, intimidation and homophobia.
Leading members of the CLP have been in conflict with the local MP, Angela Eagle, since her resignation from the Shadow Cabinet and announcement of her leadership candidacy.
The CLP has repeatedly threatened to deselect her and, following the decision to suspend CLP meetings for security reasons, an unofficial meeting voted no confidence in Eagle by a margin of 54-9.
Eagle — who dropped out of the leadership race yesterday — issued a statement welcoming the decision to investigate the local party.
“Bullying, intimidation, misogyny and homophobia have no place in the Labour Party and it is right that the national Labour Party now investigate this behaviour. I hope that the issues can be resolved, and that we can have an active, inclusive and effective local Labour Party that can tackle the real problems faced in our local community.”
The ban will prevent the CLP from holding meetings of any kind, or submitting motions for the Labour Party conference.
Its organisers have strongly objected to the central party’s decision, and denied the allegations levelled against it.The branch’s vice-chair, Paul Davies, told the BBC it was ‘an attempt to shut down all democracy in the party’ and accuses the central party of trying to smear local members.
He has also told multiple journalists that he is willing to take a lie detector test to disprove allegations of bullying.
Eagle’s short period as a leadership candidate was marred by abuse and threats of violence. A window was broken in her constituency office hours after she announced her candidacy, and a man was arrested later in the week for sending her death threats.
Having dropped out of the race, Eagle is now supporting Smith’s bid to become leader.
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14 Responses to “Labour suspends Angela Eagle’s constituency party”
Paul Watson
There have also been reports that these reports of bullying, intimidation, misogyny and homophobia are totally untrue (like AE’s office window). Surely without a thorough investigation action cannot be taken either way ie innocence before proven guilt
Or is the real reason that the Constituency has shown dissent of the highest order ie no confidence in AE ?
Martyn Wood-Bevan
I no longer trust Labour Party HQ which seems very quick to act on unsubstantiated rumours and with little, if anyway actual evidence. It is ruining Democracy in the Labour Party, along with the gerrymandered voting system, making Labour Party members to be a group of thugs. So wrong!
head in hands
What is going on? I am in total despair. I’ve always been proudly left wing, with solid labour values. Nicknamed ‘Citizen Salt’ (those old enough will get this). I’m a proud Unite Union rep yet this morning, on the radio, one of Corbyn’s fans (not Jeremy) said that people like me were soft Tories because I’m (reluctantly) in favour of Trident. How dare she??
Please let Smith win and then let’s see who will be so supportive of membership democracy then? I’m guessing charges of ‘rigged’, ‘fixed’ and ‘traitors’ will be flying around followed by mass resignations.
Just Cann
Owen Smith supporting MPs have accused Jeremy Corbyn supporters as thugs, bullies and criminals without any proof that it is Jeremy Corbyn supporters. This means that they have accused majority of labour party members as thugs, bullies and criminals. they refuse to accept that it is someone other than Corbyn supporters. To make such accusation without proof is criminal behaviour in its own right.
Owen Smith supporting MPs are responsible for getting all labour party constituencies suspended because they have accused all labour party members of bullying, harassment and intimidation at meetings and refused to accept that it is bad behaviour of one or two persons. This is the same as accusing all black people because of the bad behaviour of one or two black persons or accusing all gay and lesbian people because of the bad behaviour of on or two gay and lesbian persons and so on.
mal
Why does Paul Davies’ name sound familiar to me?