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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/sep/08/john-mcdonnell-denies-that-labour-is-purging-corbyn-critics-chuka-umunna
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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| John McDonnell denies that Labour is purging Corbyn critics | John McDonnell denies that Labour is purging Corbyn critics |
| (21 days later) | |
| The shadow chancellor has dismissed suggestions of a purge of Labour critics and said Chuka Umunna’s call for Jeremy Corbyn to “call off the dogs” was offensive. | The shadow chancellor has dismissed suggestions of a purge of Labour critics and said Chuka Umunna’s call for Jeremy Corbyn to “call off the dogs” was offensive. |
| John McDonnell claimed Chuka Umunna was “inventing stories” after the senior MP claimed moderates were being systematically targeted by more hardline factions. | John McDonnell claimed Chuka Umunna was “inventing stories” after the senior MP claimed moderates were being systematically targeted by more hardline factions. |
| McDonnell said the Streatham MP should “just get on with campaigning for a Labour government” instead of complaining about the state of the party. | McDonnell said the Streatham MP should “just get on with campaigning for a Labour government” instead of complaining about the state of the party. |
| Umunna, a leading pro-EU campaigner, used a speech on Saturday to call on the leadership to stop using internal divisions as an excuse not to fight Brexit. | Umunna, a leading pro-EU campaigner, used a speech on Saturday to call on the leadership to stop using internal divisions as an excuse not to fight Brexit. |
| His comments came after Tony Blair questioned whether Labour could ever be “taken back” by moderates. | His comments came after Tony Blair questioned whether Labour could ever be “taken back” by moderates. |
| The speech also came in the context of the Labour Friends of Israel chairwoman Joan Ryan – a prominent critic of the leadership’s handling of the antisemitism row – and Luton South MP Gavin Shuker losing local no-confidence votes on Thursday. | The speech also came in the context of the Labour Friends of Israel chairwoman Joan Ryan – a prominent critic of the leadership’s handling of the antisemitism row – and Luton South MP Gavin Shuker losing local no-confidence votes on Thursday. |
| Umunna said: “Having only been re-elected by their constituents last year, already centre-left MPs are being targeted systematically with motions against them for standing up for these values – for demanding we have a zero tolerance of racism in our party. | Umunna said: “Having only been re-elected by their constituents last year, already centre-left MPs are being targeted systematically with motions against them for standing up for these values – for demanding we have a zero tolerance of racism in our party. |
| “More motions such as this are expected by colleagues. My message to our leadership: it is within your power to stop this, so call off the dogs and get on with what my constituency, one of the most diverse communities in the nation, demands we do – without equivocation, fight this Tory Brexit.” | “More motions such as this are expected by colleagues. My message to our leadership: it is within your power to stop this, so call off the dogs and get on with what my constituency, one of the most diverse communities in the nation, demands we do – without equivocation, fight this Tory Brexit.” |
| However, McDonnell told Sky News: “There are no dogs being called on. I actually think referring to our party members as dogs is just unacceptable.” | However, McDonnell told Sky News: “There are no dogs being called on. I actually think referring to our party members as dogs is just unacceptable.” |
| It was “an appalling expression to be used about Labour party members”, he added. | It was “an appalling expression to be used about Labour party members”, he added. |
| He said “of course” there was no purge but “individual constituencies, if they are dissatisfied with what their local MP has done or said or voted, they will raise their concerns in the traditional way which is a vote of confidence or no confidence, or even just around a particular issue”. | He said “of course” there was no purge but “individual constituencies, if they are dissatisfied with what their local MP has done or said or voted, they will raise their concerns in the traditional way which is a vote of confidence or no confidence, or even just around a particular issue”. |
| “That’s what’s happening now,” he said. “This is an invented story.” | “That’s what’s happening now,” he said. “This is an invented story.” |
| McDonnell said, however, that it was “outrageous” and “disgraceful” that Iran-backed Press TV was able to film the private meeting in Ryan’s constituency. | McDonnell said, however, that it was “outrageous” and “disgraceful” that Iran-backed Press TV was able to film the private meeting in Ryan’s constituency. |
| “There will be an investigation into that and action will be taken,” he said. | “There will be an investigation into that and action will be taken,” he said. |
| Labour’s conference later this month is expected to debate changes that could make it easier to deselect sitting MPs. | Labour’s conference later this month is expected to debate changes that could make it easier to deselect sitting MPs. |
| McDonnell said: “There most probably will be a debate about mandatory reselection … I favour the existing system, which is what we call a trigger ballot. | McDonnell said: “There most probably will be a debate about mandatory reselection … I favour the existing system, which is what we call a trigger ballot. |
| “I think that works quite effectively but that will be a debate – I can’t see it going through but you never know on these occasions. | “I think that works quite effectively but that will be a debate – I can’t see it going through but you never know on these occasions. |
| “But that’s no threat to anyone, it’s basically saying that within our party our members are the people who decide who represents us, and what could be more democratic than that?” | “But that’s no threat to anyone, it’s basically saying that within our party our members are the people who decide who represents us, and what could be more democratic than that?” |
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