Louise Ellman’s resignation

JVL Introduction

Louise Ellman’s resignation has nothing to do with antisemitism but with her deep unpopularity locally.

Riverside CLP said: “[S]he made it very clear at the last CLP meeting that she could not support a Jeremy Corbyn-led government. This inevitably meant that Louise would be triggered and was very unlikely to win any reselection process.”

This article was originally published by Liverpool Echo on Thu 17 Oct 2019. Read the original here.

Louise Ellman's local Labour branch responds to her resignation after 55 years in party

Dame Louise announced the news with a parting shot at Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn

The local Liverpool party for Member Of Parliament Louise Ellman has responded to her decision to quit the Labour Party after 55 years of membership.

Dame Louise announced what she said was a “truly agonising” decision last night – blaming leader Jeremy Corbyn for allowing “anti-Jewish racism” to flourish within the party.

In a parting shot to Mr Corbyn , she said the “overwhelming majority of the Jewish community is fearful of what a Corbyn government might mean for Britain’s Jews”, concerns she said she shares.

Dame Louise, who has been the Labour MP for the Liverpool Riverside constituency since 1997, has said she will continue as the MP as an independent.

The Riverside Constituency Labour Party (CLP) has now responded to the news, thanking Ms Ellman for her hard work as MP, while suggesting she was about to be removed as the Labour candidate for the seat.

A CLP statement said: “The Labour Party recognises the hard work and commitment Louise has shown to her constituents over the past 22 years.

“Unfortunately she made it very clear at the last CLP meeting that she could not support a Jeremy Corbyn led government.

“This inevitably meant that Louise would be triggered and was very unlikely to win any reselection process.

“The CLP  totally supports Jeremy Corbyn and the policies of the Labour Party that seek to benefit the many.

“We are looking forward to a Labour Government led by Jeremy. We thank Louise for all her hard work.”

Liverpool Wavertree MP Luciana Berger – who also quit the Labour Party citing issues with antisemitism, responded to Dame Louise’s resignation on twitter by urging other Labour MPs to quit the party.

The now Liberal Democrat MP tweeted: “Please don’t tweet about how upsetting/awful it is that Dame @LouiseEllman and I have left @UKLabour if you’re in a position of leadership and still in there. Don’t be a bystander. Actions speak louder than tweets.”

A national Labour party spokesman said Mr Corbyn thanked Dame Louise for her service “over many years”.

He said: “Jeremy Corbyn and the Labour Party are fully committed to the support, defence and celebration of the Jewish community and continue to take robust action to root out anti-Semitism in the party and wider society.”

 

Comments (4)

  • Andrew Hornung says:

    I can’t read the letter you show, but Ellman is reported to have said that “antisemitism is mainstream in the Labour Party today”. This is, if anything, a step up from the now standard “institutional antisemitism” slur – a further step into an almost completely fictional world.
    And the BBC interviewers listen patiently to Ellman’s nonsense, never interrupting when she mentions the EHRC investigation to say a) that it is still ongoing and has not yet reported and b) that the investigation is triggered by 2 poltical opponents of the Corbyn leadership.

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  • Joseph O'Neill says:

    A treacherous dishonest divisive MP who has damaged social cohesion. Labour supports Palestine.

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  • John says:

    Anti-Labour MPs like Ellman may well have cost the Labour Party victory at the next general election but the “loss” of her and others like her may well turn out to be in the best long-term interests of the Labour Party.
    She and others like her still in the party truly are vile individuals without whom – to use a phrase – “Things can only get better !!

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  • Richard Samson says:

    It is tragic that the Labour Party, the only reasonable chance of relief for so many of the underprivileged in our society, has to put up with the undermining smears of those who should be doing everything to further the chances of a Labour government.

    If Ellman did any good in the past, thanks to her. But she is no asset anymore and I’m glad she’s gone.

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