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Eagle received hundreds of abusive, homophobic messages from Labour members Eagle received hundreds of abusive, homophobic messages from Labour members
(about 3 hours later)
A Labour internal investigation has found that Angela Eagle received hundreds of “abusive, homophobic and frightening” messages from party members.A Labour internal investigation has found that Angela Eagle received hundreds of “abusive, homophobic and frightening” messages from party members.
It also concluded that it was “highly likely” that a window vandalised at her office building – with a brick, according to the report – was related to her short-lived leadership challenge to Jeremy Corbyn.It also concluded that it was “highly likely” that a window vandalised at her office building – with a brick, according to the report – was related to her short-lived leadership challenge to Jeremy Corbyn.
The investigation was conducted following complaints and counter-complaints about events in her local party, Wallasey. It was carried out by officials and upheld by a subcommittee of the party’s ruling body. The investigation was conducted following complaints and counter-complaints about events in her local constituency party in Wallasey. It was carried out by officials and upheld by a subcommittee of the party’s ruling body.
Eagle said she was grateful that Corbyn had attended the meeting and expressed sympathy for her and staff over the abuse they had received.Eagle said she was grateful that Corbyn had attended the meeting and expressed sympathy for her and staff over the abuse they had received.
The report found there had been a “high-level of inter-member abuse in Wallasey” and that it was not possible for the local party to meet safely at the moment.The report found there had been a “high-level of inter-member abuse in Wallasey” and that it was not possible for the local party to meet safely at the moment.
Officials recommended a suspension of the party pending a review in the spring, because the culture had become so toxic and divided in the extreme. It will receive support from the party’s regional office to move forward with a code of conduct and training.Officials recommended a suspension of the party pending a review in the spring, because the culture had become so toxic and divided in the extreme. It will receive support from the party’s regional office to move forward with a code of conduct and training.
The investigation also looked at abuse suffered by Eagle, both before and after she launched a challenge to Corbyn’s leadership. “It’s highly likely that the brick thrown through the window of Angela Eagle’s office was related to her leadership challenge,” the report found. “The position of the window made it very unlikely that this was a random passerby. The window was directly between two Labour offices.The investigation also looked at abuse suffered by Eagle, both before and after she launched a challenge to Corbyn’s leadership. “It’s highly likely that the brick thrown through the window of Angela Eagle’s office was related to her leadership challenge,” the report found. “The position of the window made it very unlikely that this was a random passerby. The window was directly between two Labour offices.
“Untrue rumours were subsequently spread that the building was occupied by many companies and the window was in an unrelated stairwell. This was based on a Companies House search which found that the landlord had a number of companies registered there; in fact the only other occupant is the landlord on the upper floor. Once this incorrect rumour was spread, members repeated it as clear evidence that Angela Eagle was lying. This is categorically untrue.”“Untrue rumours were subsequently spread that the building was occupied by many companies and the window was in an unrelated stairwell. This was based on a Companies House search which found that the landlord had a number of companies registered there; in fact the only other occupant is the landlord on the upper floor. Once this incorrect rumour was spread, members repeated it as clear evidence that Angela Eagle was lying. This is categorically untrue.”
It said Eagle’s office had endured a “significant amount of abuse”, including intimidating phone calls that led staff to unplug the phone, a death threat towards her and what appeared to be co-ordinated denial of internet service attacks. It said Eagle’s office had endured a “significant amount of abuse”, including intimidating phone calls that led staff to unplug the phone, a death threat towards her and what appeared to be coordinated denial of internet service attacks.
In relation to an annual meeting of Wallasey CLP, it said some members had truthfully claimed that homophobic instances occurred, while others truthfully said they were not aware of those instances. In relation to an annual meeting of Wallasey constituency Labour party, it said some members had truthfully claimed that homophobic instances occurred, while others truthfully said they were not aware of those instances.
Paul Davies, the vice-chair of the Wallasey Labour party, said the suspension should be lifted as nothing had been found to prove the involvement of local members in abuse. Paul Davies, the vice-chair of the Wallasey CLP, said the suspension should be lifted as nothing had been found to prove the involvement of local members in abuse.
“The abuse towards Angela from people should be dealt with by police, never mind the Labour party. There is no evidence I have seen that members of the Labour party or Wallasey Labour party have been involved. If they were they should be expelled and prosecuted.”“The abuse towards Angela from people should be dealt with by police, never mind the Labour party. There is no evidence I have seen that members of the Labour party or Wallasey Labour party have been involved. If they were they should be expelled and prosecuted.”
He said it was “rather strange” that the report could conclude that both those who heard and did not hear homophobic abuse in Wallasey’s annual general meeting were telling the truth.He said it was “rather strange” that the report could conclude that both those who heard and did not hear homophobic abuse in Wallasey’s annual general meeting were telling the truth.
On the issue of the vandalism of Eagle’s office building, he said: “Whoever broke the window should be dealt with by police, whether they are a member of Labour or not. There is no proof it was a member of the Labour party. What I can’t understand in all of the accusations is there is nothing to suggest the Labour party in Wallasey can’t meet.On the issue of the vandalism of Eagle’s office building, he said: “Whoever broke the window should be dealt with by police, whether they are a member of Labour or not. There is no proof it was a member of the Labour party. What I can’t understand in all of the accusations is there is nothing to suggest the Labour party in Wallasey can’t meet.
“My view is Angela had every right to stand as leader but we’ve also got the right to meet. That’s democracy. Both democratic principles should apply and I can’t see why we can’t meet with the regional Labour party overseeing the meetings … There is no toxicity. There is a number of people who lost their positions at the annual meeting and those people who lost have put in the complaints, simple as that.”“My view is Angela had every right to stand as leader but we’ve also got the right to meet. That’s democracy. Both democratic principles should apply and I can’t see why we can’t meet with the regional Labour party overseeing the meetings … There is no toxicity. There is a number of people who lost their positions at the annual meeting and those people who lost have put in the complaints, simple as that.”
The investigation, which anonymised all complaints and took about 100 statements, said some members were angry about the action taken in Wallasey, and about the leadership election. “This has resulted in genuine fear and intimidation of a small number of other members,” it said. “This creates an environment in which some members are fearful to take part in the party or raise their voice about any issue, as they see that meetings have become hostile and sometimes aggressive.”The investigation, which anonymised all complaints and took about 100 statements, said some members were angry about the action taken in Wallasey, and about the leadership election. “This has resulted in genuine fear and intimidation of a small number of other members,” it said. “This creates an environment in which some members are fearful to take part in the party or raise their voice about any issue, as they see that meetings have become hostile and sometimes aggressive.”
The report said one member in particular had endured a significant level of personal abuse and a hashtag was created to encourage people to “shame” him publicly and his home address and personal details were published online.The report said one member in particular had endured a significant level of personal abuse and a hashtag was created to encourage people to “shame” him publicly and his home address and personal details were published online.
The report said it could not substantiate a claim that one member had breached data protection by using a membership list to promote a public meeting to discuss concerns about the suspension of Wallasey CLP.The report said it could not substantiate a claim that one member had breached data protection by using a membership list to promote a public meeting to discuss concerns about the suspension of Wallasey CLP.
Davies, who helped organise the public meeting, said it had been proved that no data protection laws had been breached and other people who made the complaint had lied about him.Davies, who helped organise the public meeting, said it had been proved that no data protection laws had been breached and other people who made the complaint had lied about him.
In response to the report, Eagle said she was “proud to have been the MP for Wallasey for 24 years and to have had a good relationship with most local Labour activists for all of that time”.In response to the report, Eagle said she was “proud to have been the MP for Wallasey for 24 years and to have had a good relationship with most local Labour activists for all of that time”.
“I am grateful that Jeremy took the unusual step of both attending and speaking in the meeting and that he expressed sincere sympathy for both me and for my staff,” she said. “It is now clear and accepted by the NEC [National Executive Committee] that homophobic abuse was perpetrated by some members of the local party; I will simply not tolerate it, and I know I have the backing of both Jeremy and union leaders when I say that there is no place for it in the Labour movement either. “I am grateful that Jeremy took the unusual step of both attending and speaking in the meeting and that he expressed sincere sympathy for both me and for my staff,” she said. “It is now clear and accepted by the NEC [national executive committee] that homophobic abuse was perpetrated by some members of the local party; I will simply not tolerate it, and I know I have the backing of both Jeremy and union leaders when I say that there is no place for it in the Labour movement either.
“As regards the vandalism of my office, I am grateful to both the internal investigators and the NEC for making clear both the facts of the matter and for the support of members up and down the country, including the leader of the Labour party, that such abuse both happened and is intolerable.”“As regards the vandalism of my office, I am grateful to both the internal investigators and the NEC for making clear both the facts of the matter and for the support of members up and down the country, including the leader of the Labour party, that such abuse both happened and is intolerable.”
Separately, the Liverpool Echo reported that a 45-year-old man,Stephen King, of Mirin Wynd, Paisley, Scotland, had pleaded guilty to sending a grossly offensive, indecent, obscene or menacing message by a public communications network to Eagle.
According to the report, he told police he had been venting his anger about Eagle’s challenge to Corbyn and never intended to act upon it.
King told Eagle to leave the UK, said she would “never be safe” and threatened an “IRA sniper or bomb on you the day you steal the leadership of the Labour party.”
A spokesman for Eagle said: “The death threat received by Angela’s office was credible and frightening. It led staff to fear for their and Angela’s safety, especially coming weeks after our friend and colleague Jo Cox’s murder.
“Despite all this having been upsetting, Angela has always remained upbeat and focused on the important work of holding this rotten Tory government to account, most importantly on their chaotic approach to Britain leaving the European Union and investment into the Wirral.”