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| Labour faces bigger flashpoints than Frank Field's resignation | Labour faces bigger flashpoints than Frank Field's resignation |
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| Frank Field’s departure had its roots in local turmoil but his rift with the party on both Brexit and antisemitism are at the heart of the deep schism in the party nationally. | Frank Field’s departure had its roots in local turmoil but his rift with the party on both Brexit and antisemitism are at the heart of the deep schism in the party nationally. |
| “There are two backbench MPs whose names are repeated to me by northern, working-class voters, who say they are universally respected, and they are Frank Field and Dennis Skinner,” John Mann, Field’s friend and a fellow Brexiter, told the Guardian, reeling off Field’s record on tackling child poverty, low pay, universal credit and taking on Philip Green over BHS pensions. | “There are two backbench MPs whose names are repeated to me by northern, working-class voters, who say they are universally respected, and they are Frank Field and Dennis Skinner,” John Mann, Field’s friend and a fellow Brexiter, told the Guardian, reeling off Field’s record on tackling child poverty, low pay, universal credit and taking on Philip Green over BHS pensions. |
| “If there is no longer a place for Frank Field in the Labour party and his values, then we are in very deep trouble in those places indeed,” Mann continued. | “If there is no longer a place for Frank Field in the Labour party and his values, then we are in very deep trouble in those places indeed,” Mann continued. |
| In the wake of a crunch Brexit vote in which Eurosceptic Labour rebels like Field delivered a narrow victory for Theresa May, the MP lost a confidence vote at his local Birkenhead CLP and deselection looked a serious possibility. | In the wake of a crunch Brexit vote in which Eurosceptic Labour rebels like Field delivered a narrow victory for Theresa May, the MP lost a confidence vote at his local Birkenhead CLP and deselection looked a serious possibility. |
| Relations had broken down between the MP and local members for some months and sources said he had not attended constituency meetings since March. | Relations had broken down between the MP and local members for some months and sources said he had not attended constituency meetings since March. |
| Party sources said there had been efforts to address concerns, including investigating a councillor named by Field in his letter and removing her as a Labour candidate, though she was not disciplined further. “The issue pre-dates the motion of no confidence and the issue is not political or factional,” one source said. | Party sources said there had been efforts to address concerns, including investigating a councillor named by Field in his letter and removing her as a Labour candidate, though she was not disciplined further. “The issue pre-dates the motion of no confidence and the issue is not political or factional,” one source said. |
| In his resignation letter, Field said the “failure to act on these numerous complaints about the thuggish conduct of some members demonstrates a wilful denial”. | In his resignation letter, Field said the “failure to act on these numerous complaints about the thuggish conduct of some members demonstrates a wilful denial”. |
| The Labour MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle, an ally of the leader, Jeremy Corbyn, said there was a limit to what could be done if relations had broken down locally. | The Labour MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle, an ally of the leader, Jeremy Corbyn, said there was a limit to what could be done if relations had broken down locally. |
| “What Frank describes is not something I recognise,” he said. “It sounds like there was local feud, the person in question was investigated and taken off the list of the Labour party. There comes a point where you say, if you’re not happy with the action that has been taken, we might have to part ways.” | “What Frank describes is not something I recognise,” he said. “It sounds like there was local feud, the person in question was investigated and taken off the list of the Labour party. There comes a point where you say, if you’re not happy with the action that has been taken, we might have to part ways.” |
| Some MPs called for the party to reach out to Field and try to persuade him to retake the whip. “If we are serious about being in government and making a difference to people’s lives then we will listen to Frank,” the MP Neil Coyle said. “There is still time to bring Frank back into the Labour party.” | Some MPs called for the party to reach out to Field and try to persuade him to retake the whip. “If we are serious about being in government and making a difference to people’s lives then we will listen to Frank,” the MP Neil Coyle said. “There is still time to bring Frank back into the Labour party.” |
| Another Labour MP, Wes Streeting, said the party faced electoral oblivion if it could not continue to be a broad church. “If these divisions are irreconcilable, the Labour party faces its biggest crisis since 1981,” he wrote in a piece for the Guardian. “A split in the party would mean another term, if not another generation, of Conservative government.” | Another Labour MP, Wes Streeting, said the party faced electoral oblivion if it could not continue to be a broad church. “If these divisions are irreconcilable, the Labour party faces its biggest crisis since 1981,” he wrote in a piece for the Guardian. “A split in the party would mean another term, if not another generation, of Conservative government.” |
| Stephen Kinnock, the MP for Aberavon, said he had watched Field’s character being attacked with utter horror. “I’ve had many disagreements with Frank over Brexit but that is not a reason to hound someone out of the party,” he said. “It is appalling to see some people engaging in character assassinations, which has happened a lot recently and is deeply regrettable.” | Stephen Kinnock, the MP for Aberavon, said he had watched Field’s character being attacked with utter horror. “I’ve had many disagreements with Frank over Brexit but that is not a reason to hound someone out of the party,” he said. “It is appalling to see some people engaging in character assassinations, which has happened a lot recently and is deeply regrettable.” |
| Many more MPs were privately expressing dismay at the furious reaction to Field’s departure. “The reaction is not to say, we’ll consider those concerns, but to say, we’re expelling you,” one backbencher said. “It’s beyond belief.” | Many more MPs were privately expressing dismay at the furious reaction to Field’s departure. “The reaction is not to say, we’ll consider those concerns, but to say, we’re expelling you,” one backbencher said. “It’s beyond belief.” |
| Ivor Caplin, the former Hove MP and the chair of the Jewish Labour Movement, said the bitter atmosphere in the party was taking its toll, especially over antisemitism. “In some constituencies, the constant aggressive nature of some people is wearing on activists and that is not right,” he said. | Ivor Caplin, the former Hove MP and the chair of the Jewish Labour Movement, said the bitter atmosphere in the party was taking its toll, especially over antisemitism. “In some constituencies, the constant aggressive nature of some people is wearing on activists and that is not right,” he said. |
| “One of the founding traditions of the Labour party is we are able to have different views but walk out and go for a drink afterwards, because that is what Labour is about. It is not about aggressive, nasty behaviour.” | “One of the founding traditions of the Labour party is we are able to have different views but walk out and go for a drink afterwards, because that is what Labour is about. It is not about aggressive, nasty behaviour.” |
| The veteran MP, who has resigned the Labour whip, was among those who nominated Jeremy Corbyn for the leadership in 2015, calling the other candidates 'thin post-Blair gruel' and saying the leftwinger would change the terms of the debate. | The veteran MP, who has resigned the Labour whip, was among those who nominated Jeremy Corbyn for the leadership in 2015, calling the other candidates 'thin post-Blair gruel' and saying the leftwinger would change the terms of the debate. |
| Field, 79, has been MP for Birkenhead since 1979. He served as a minister under Tony Blair but is best known for his role as chair of the work and pensions select committee, taking robust positions on food banks, benefit sanctions, the gig economy and migrant workers. | Field, 79, has been MP for Birkenhead since 1979. He served as a minister under Tony Blair but is best known for his role as chair of the work and pensions select committee, taking robust positions on food banks, benefit sanctions, the gig economy and migrant workers. |
| Most recently, his Euroscepticism has been in the spotlight, often voting against the party whip on Brexit, including recent votes where pro-Brexit Labour rebels saved Theresa May’s government from devastating defeats. | Most recently, his Euroscepticism has been in the spotlight, often voting against the party whip on Brexit, including recent votes where pro-Brexit Labour rebels saved Theresa May’s government from devastating defeats. |
| Field had been facing the possible threat of deselection, and recently narrowly lost a no-confidence vote in his local party. The MP said his constituency Labour party was trying to 'misrepresent' his pro-Brexit vote. 'It would have been a betrayal of the principles I have held for my entire political life, had I voted against the legislation,' he said. | Field had been facing the possible threat of deselection, and recently narrowly lost a no-confidence vote in his local party. The MP said his constituency Labour party was trying to 'misrepresent' his pro-Brexit vote. 'It would have been a betrayal of the principles I have held for my entire political life, had I voted against the legislation,' he said. |
| After he announced he was quitting the whip, critics were quick to point to some of Field's more rightwing views; citing his comments about the need for controls on migrant workers and his admiration for Margaret Thatcher, who he said was “certainly a hero”. | After he announced he was quitting the whip, critics were quick to point to some of Field's more rightwing views; citing his comments about the need for controls on migrant workers and his admiration for Margaret Thatcher, who he said was “certainly a hero”. |
| Field has, however, been one of the Conservative government’s fiercest critics in recent years, particularly on universal credit, which he said was forcing people into desperate poverty. Earlier this year, he told MPs about a constituent who had considered suicide because of payment delays, a speech that brought a Tory MP to tears. | Field has, however, been one of the Conservative government’s fiercest critics in recent years, particularly on universal credit, which he said was forcing people into desperate poverty. Earlier this year, he told MPs about a constituent who had considered suicide because of payment delays, a speech that brought a Tory MP to tears. |
| He was one of the first MPs to speak out about the rising use of food banks, as chair of the all-party parliamentary group on hunger, saying they were fast becoming 'an institutional part of our welfare state'. | He was one of the first MPs to speak out about the rising use of food banks, as chair of the all-party parliamentary group on hunger, saying they were fast becoming 'an institutional part of our welfare state'. |
| Field has also criticised the gig economy, calling it 'bogus self-employment … peddled by those who benefit so handsomely from the gig economy, to avoid the obligations they have to their workforce'. | Field has also criticised the gig economy, calling it 'bogus self-employment … peddled by those who benefit so handsomely from the gig economy, to avoid the obligations they have to their workforce'. |
| Few Labour MPs said they believed Field’s departure would be the catalyst for a mass exodus, describing him as a lone operator who did not confide in many people that he was planning to leave. | Few Labour MPs said they believed Field’s departure would be the catalyst for a mass exodus, describing him as a lone operator who did not confide in many people that he was planning to leave. |
| The party was quick to underline, however, that MPs who quit the whip, like Field, must also quit the party, just in case other MPs might have thought that was an option. | The party was quick to underline, however, that MPs who quit the whip, like Field, must also quit the party, just in case other MPs might have thought that was an option. |
| Instead, the biggest flash point will be next week, when the party’s ruling national executive committee will meet on Tuesday to consider whether to finally adopt the four examples of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism, originally omitted from the Labour code of conduct. | Instead, the biggest flash point will be next week, when the party’s ruling national executive committee will meet on Tuesday to consider whether to finally adopt the four examples of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism, originally omitted from the Labour code of conduct. |
| Labour MPs will vote among themselves whether to adopt the definition into their own rulebook on Wednesday – a clear challenge to the leadership, who are keen to avoid an embarrassing showdown. | Labour MPs will vote among themselves whether to adopt the definition into their own rulebook on Wednesday – a clear challenge to the leadership, who are keen to avoid an embarrassing showdown. |
| “The Labour party without Frank is much weaker than with him, but I don’t see this as a moment that will shift the dial one way or the other,” one senior backbencher said. “The big thing now that colleagues are looking for is the NEC decision on the IHRA definition and the PLP vote that will follow if it doesn’t. Then it will be for the NEC to respond to that – and the truth of the matter is, that will be the big moment.” | “The Labour party without Frank is much weaker than with him, but I don’t see this as a moment that will shift the dial one way or the other,” one senior backbencher said. “The big thing now that colleagues are looking for is the NEC decision on the IHRA definition and the PLP vote that will follow if it doesn’t. Then it will be for the NEC to respond to that – and the truth of the matter is, that will be the big moment.” |
| The JLM will hold its annual conference on Sunday, where Jewish MPs such as Luciana Berger and Margaret Hodge, as well as the Momentum founder Jon Lansman, are due to speak. | The JLM will hold its annual conference on Sunday, where Jewish MPs such as Luciana Berger and Margaret Hodge, as well as the Momentum founder Jon Lansman, are due to speak. |
| “The only way forward for the NEC is to adopt the definition and all the examples,” Caplin said. “But until they do that, there is an impasse. This is the key issue to unlocking other discussions.” | “The only way forward for the NEC is to adopt the definition and all the examples,” Caplin said. “But until they do that, there is an impasse. This is the key issue to unlocking other discussions.” |
| The former Labour minister said it had been a devastating summer for the party. “It is something I have learnt in my political career, that every decision you make has consequences,” he said. “And the consequences of that poor decision has meant we have had eight weeks of very damaging headlines. | The former Labour minister said it had been a devastating summer for the party. “It is something I have learnt in my political career, that every decision you make has consequences,” he said. “And the consequences of that poor decision has meant we have had eight weeks of very damaging headlines. |
| “It’s been depressing for members of the Jewish community, but not just for us, but for members of the public as well, because they want to see the Labour party as an effective opposition to this shambolic Tory government. We’ve not been able to do any of that because of this position on antisemitism. We should not be here.” | “It’s been depressing for members of the Jewish community, but not just for us, but for members of the public as well, because they want to see the Labour party as an effective opposition to this shambolic Tory government. We’ve not been able to do any of that because of this position on antisemitism. We should not be here.” |
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