RED WAR: Labour MP rages at left-wingers for defying Keir Starmer
KEIR STARMER has been defended by senior Labour MP, Dame Margaret Beckett, who hit out at politicians within the party for infighting.
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Keir Starmer has dismissed calls by Labour leftwingers to reinstate Rebecca Long-Bailey after she was sacked for sharing an article online containing an allegedly anti-Semitic conspiracy theory. Members of the Campaign group of MPs held a conference call with the Labour leader to protest against Ms Long-Bailey's dismissal as shadow education secretary. Dame Margaret Beckett hit out at the MPs for their infighting instead of working together to get Labour into Government.
Speaking to LBC, Dame Margaret said: "Some of the people who are saying Sir Keir has started a rift with the left have not supported a single thing that Keir has done since he became leader of the party.
"There is a rift to some extent and the rift it theirs.
"They are behaving in a totally oppositional way and then complaining.
"There is no need for a rift in the Labour Party between people of goodwill who want a Labour Government to run this country.
READ MORE: Labour Party MOCKED as 'self-cannibalising' over Long-Bailey sacking
"Unfortunately some people who call themselves left-wingers who claim to be the only representation of the left.
"Some people seem to be more concerned in their own internal fights and power than the British people they claim to represent and who we all want to represent better."
Sir Keir said the meeting with concerned MPs was "constructive and the tone was absolutely right", but ultimately ended in disagreement.
He said: "We engaged for about an hour in discussion but my mind is made up on this.
"I took my decision yesterday and put my statement out yesterday."
Rebecca Long-Bailey sacking causing ‘tension’ says Kuenssberg
Ms Long-Bailey was fired on Thursday after refusing to take down a tweet linking to an interview with the actor Maxine Peake in which she claimed police linked to the death of George Floyd in the US had learned their tactics from the Israeli secret services.
Sir Keir, following his initial decision, said he had acted in order to rebuild trust with the Jewish community after years in which Labour has been embroiled in allegations of anti-Semitism under his predecessor, Jeremy Corbyn.
However, the move infuriated left-wing allies of the former leader, including ex-shadow chancellor John McDonnell, who rejected claims Ms Peake's comments were anti-Semitic and said he stood "in solidarity" with Ms Long-Bailey.
In a statement following its meeting with Sir Keir, the Campaign group said it had also raised the issue of the freedom of party members to speak out on the issue of Israel.
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The statement said: "On the sacking of Rebecca Long-Bailey from the shadow cabinet, it was clear that significant disagreement remains on this point.
"The Socialist Campaign Group of Labour MPs made it clear that Rebecca Long-Bailey should not have been sacked and should be reinstated.
"The imminent annexation of the West Bank by Israel's government was discussed and the need for the Labour Party, MPs, party members and supporters to speak out against Israel's illegal annexation and ongoing human rights abuses by the government of Israel was raised.
"This was a businesslike exchange of views which took place in a mutually respectful manner."