LONDON A group of MPs from Britain's opposition Labour Party broke away yesterday in protest against leader Jeremy Corbyn's support for Brexit and his failure to stamp out anti-Semitism. The seven MPs included Mr Chuka Umunna, who has led a campaign for a second referendum that could stop Brexit and was once seen as a potential leader of the centre-left party. Mr Umunna called for a centrist "alternative" in British politics as the rebel MPs complained about the far-left turn the party had taken under veteran socialist Corbyn. "The bottom line is this - politics is broken, it doesn't have to be this way, let's change it," Mr Umunna said at a hastily-arranged press conference. The seven MPs will form a breakaway independent group in Parliament, undermining Mr Corbyn as he attempts to steer the party through the highly divisive issue of Brexit. Many Labour voters, particularly in northern England, chose to leave the European Union in the 2016 referendum - but a majority of Labour MPs and … [Read more...] about Seven MPs leave Labour Party in protest against Corbyn’s leadership
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Seven lawmakers quit UK Labour Party citing Brexit ‘betrayal’, anti-Semitism
LONDON: Seven Labour lawmakers quit Britain's main opposition party on Monday (Feb 18) over leader Jeremy Corbyn's approach to Brexit and a row over anti-Semitism, saying Labour had been "hijacked by the machine politics of the hard left."The departure of the small group of lawmakers underlines the mounting frustration with Corbyn's reluctance to change his Brexit strategy and start campaigning for a second referendum on Britain's membership of the European Union.With only 39 days until Britain leaves the EU in its biggest foreign and trade policy shift in more than 40 years, divisions over Brexit have fragmented British politics, breaking down traditional party lines and creating new coalitions across the country's left/right divide."The Labour party that we joined that we campaigned for and believed in is no longer today's Labour Party. We did everything we could to save it, but it has now been hijacked by the machine politics of the hard left," lawmaker Chris Leslie told a news … [Read more...] about Seven lawmakers quit UK Labour Party citing Brexit ‘betrayal’, anti-Semitism
Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour party is institutionally racist says Chuka Umunna
caption Chuka Umunna MP. source Leon Neal/Getty Labour MP Chuka Umunna says his party is institutionally racist. In a blistering column, the former shadow minister said most Labour MPs were at “breaking point” at the antisemitism scandal which has engulfed the party this summer. Umunna questioned whether Jeremy Corbyn should lead the party going forward. He said Labour does not deserve to be in power. “So what are we left with? Two parties that do not have the authority to lead the country,” he wrote. LONDON – Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour is institutionally racist with most of its MPs at “breaking point” over the antisemitism crisis which has engulfed the party, a leading Labour MP has claimed. Writing for The Independent, the former shadow minister Chuka Umunna said the Labour party, led by Corbyn, was guilty of institutional racism towards Jewish people. “In short, the Jewish community has clearly been … [Read more...] about Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour party is institutionally racist says Chuka Umunna
Why Jeremy Corbyn’s anti-Semitism crisis risks a major split in the Labour party
source Getty Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour party is in crisis and risk a potential split in the party over an ongoing row about the definition of anti-Semitism Corbyn’s office remain unmoved on their refusal to recognise the entirety of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition. The row has reignited longstanding suspicions by some Jewish people that Corbyn and his allies hold anti-Semitic views. However, with pressure being exerted by key figures such as GMB leader Tim Roache and Momentum founder Jon Lansman, Corbyn is under growing pressure to shift. Failure to do so could cause a major rupture in the party. LONDON – Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour party is facing the most significant chance of a split since the 1980s, with relations between the leader and his MPs now more strained than ever. The row centres on Corbyn’s refusal to adopt the full International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition … [Read more...] about Why Jeremy Corbyn’s anti-Semitism crisis risks a major split in the Labour party
Ex-London mayor Livingstone quits Labour Party in anti-Semitism row
LONDON: Former London mayor Ken Livingstone on Monday (May 21) quit the opposition Labour Party, saying his 2016 suspension for alleged anti-Semitic comments had become a "distraction" to a party recently dogged by the issue."After much consideration, I have decided to resign from the Labour Party," Livingstone said in a statement on his website. "The ongoing issues around my suspension from the Labour Party have become a distraction."The mayor of the capital between 2000 and 2008 denied that he had "brought the Labour Party into disrepute" or that he was "in any way guilty of anti-Semitism.""I abhor anti-semitism, I have fought it all my life and will continue to do so," he said.Livingstone, 72, was suspended in April 2016 after saying on a radio show that when Hitler won power in Germany in the early 1930s, "his policy then was that Jews should be moved to Israel. He was supporting Zionism before he went mad and ended up killing six million Jews".Despite the row party leader … [Read more...] about Ex-London mayor Livingstone quits Labour Party in anti-Semitism row