ZCZC
BFF-29
BRITAIN-EU-BREXIT
Seven MPs quit UK Labour Party over Brexit, anti-Semitism
LONDON, Feb 18, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – A group of MPs from Britain’s opposition
Labour Party broke away on Monday in protest at leader Jeremy Corbyn’s
support for Brexit and his failure to stamp out anti-Semitism.
The seven MPs included 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. 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,” Umunna said at a hastily-arranged press conference in
London.
The seven MPs will form a breakaway independent group in parliament,
undermining 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 members supported staying in.
The referendum cut across party political allegiances also in the ruling
Conservative Party, which is now deeply divided between pro-EU moderates and
Brexit hardliners.
The Labour rebellion is unlikely to make a major difference in crucial
upcoming votes on Prime Minister Theresa May’s Brexit deal but the move was
welcomed by pro-EU forces.
Vince Cable, leader of the opposition Liberal Democrats, said he was “open
to working with like-minded groups and individuals in order to give the
people the final say on Brexit, with the option to remain in the EU”.
– ‘Painful but necessary’ –
Corbyn said he was “disappointed” by his MPs’ decision.
“Now more than ever is the time to bring people together to build a better
future for us all,” he said, pointing to the party’s strong result in the
last general election in 2017.
Corbyn has come under fire from europhiles for failing to push for a
second referendum. He has instead called on May to negotiate a customs union
with the European Union to ease trade ties after Brexit.
Corbyn has also been criticised for months for his handling of cases of
anti-Semitism in the Labour Party, and his own past associations with
Palestinian militants.
Another of the seven MPs, Luciana Berger, a victim of anti-Semitic online
abuse for years, said: “This has been a very difficult, painful but necessary
decision.”
Berger said the Labour Party had become “institutionally anti-Semitic”,
adding: “I have become embarrassed and ashamed to represent the Labour Party.
“I am leaving behind a culture of bullying, bigotry and intimidation,” she
said.
MP Mike Gapes said one of his main reasons for leaving was because he was
“furious that the Labour leadership is complicit in facilitating Brexit”.
His colleague Chris Leslie said he too was leaving because of “Labour’s
betrayal on Europe”.
BSS/AFP/FI/ 1730 hrs