Labour infighting: Move to oust deputy leader Tom Watson triggers controversy
Moves to oust Tom Watson as Labour’s deputy leader have provoked controversy.
Labour’s National Executive Committee (NEC) is to vote on whether to abolish the position of deputy leader on Saturday.
Mr Watson has publicly clashed with Jeremy Corbyn on a number of occasions.
The move to abolish the deputy leader post without warning or debate is undemocratic, wrong and should not happen. Those who came up with the idea for the eve of Labour Conference have taken leave of their senses.
— Ed Miliband (@Ed_Miliband) September 20, 2019
He recently called for a new Brexit referendum to be held before a general election.
Labour’s NEC is to consider abolishing the post of deputy party leader on Saturday after a bid to get rid of the post failed at a meeting on Friday.
Former Labour leader Ed Miliband tweeted: “The move to abolish the deputy leader post without warning or debate is undemocratic, wrong and should not happen.
“Those who came up with the idea for the eve of Labour conference have taken leave of their senses.”
Tribal infighting in the middle of a Boris Johnshon-inspired national emergency makes me want to weep. My constituents and millions of others across the country desperately need the Labour party united right now. The Tories, not Tom Watson, are our opponents. Let's fight them.
— David Lammy (@DavidLammy) September 20, 2019
View from frontline. Spent week in my office saw 100s of people, helped with homelessness, disability benefits, gave out food. Saw people with substance misuse problems & helped kids get mental health treatment. No one mentioned upset with the Labour deputy leader position
— Jess Phillips Esq., M.P. (@jessphillips) September 20, 2019
Ex-minister Yvette Cooper tweeted: “This is completely mad and incredibly destructive. Country faces serious challenges & General Election could be imminent. @UKLabour conference shd be about country & about pulling together. Instead we get this.”