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Labour to review its decision to expel Alastair Campbell Labour to review its decision to expel Alastair Campbell
(about 4 hours later)
Labour is to review its expulsion of Alastair Campbell after he voted for the Liberal Democrats in the European elections, the party has said. Labour will review its decision to expel Alastair Campbell after he voted for the Liberal Democrats in the European elections, the shadow attorney general has said.
Tony Blair’s former director of communications was forced out after he revealed his decision not to vote for Labour over its lack of commitment to a second Brexit referendum. Tony Blair’s former spin doctor was forced out after he revealed his decision not to support Labour over its lack of a commitment to a second Brexit referendum.
The decision has prompted anger among other party members who said they too had voted for the Lib Dems, and the shadow attorney general, Shami Chakrabarti, said it would be re-examined and called for a swift process. Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme on Thursday, Shami Chakrabarti said: “Now there will be a review, which is appropriate. I don’t want to cut across this review, I’m not part of that process. I would not like to see this drag on.”
She told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “Now there will be a review, which is appropriate. I don’t want to cut across this review, I’m not part of that process. I would not like to see this drag on.” Asked if she believed Campbell should be allowed to rejoin the party, she added: “That will depend on what he says about his intentions.”
Asked if she believed he should be allowed to rejoin the party, she said: “That will depend on what he says about his intentions.” Campbell’s expulsion prompted anger among some party members, including Labour’s deputy leader Tom Watson who called it “spiteful” and said members who voted for other parties in last week’s elections should be given an amnesty.
Reports emerged on Thursday suggesting that Cherie Blair was also among the Labour members to vote Lib Dem in the European elections. Blair was reported to have told friends of her decision, with sources close to the QC telling ITV that she was “happy for it to be known”. Others revealed that they too had been unfaithful to the party. Former home secretary Charles Clarke called for Campbell’s reinstatement and claimed his expulsion “only compounds Labour’s current political difficulties”.
“I also voted Liberal Democrat. This was an one-off decision because of the hopeless incoherence of Labour’s position – particularly that of Jeremy Corbyn – on Brexit,” said Clarke.
Fiona Mactaggart, former MP for Slough, also voted for the Lib Dems. It was “time for us all to declare: ‘I am Spartacus,’”, she said. The former defence secretary Bob Ainsworth claimed he had voted against Labour for the first time in his life – opting to support the Green party instead.
Others within Labour however, described the decision to expel Campbell as merely a matter of applying its rules consistently. Dawn Butler, the shadow women and equalities secretary, said on Tuesday that members who admitted voting for another party were “automatically excluded”.
Instead of kicking out Alastair Campbell, Labour should listen to him | Jonathan FreedlandInstead of kicking out Alastair Campbell, Labour should listen to him | Jonathan Freedland
Labour has said Campbell’s expulsion was simply a matter of applying its rules consistently. The shadow women and equalities secretary, Dawn Butler, said on Tuesday that any member who said they had voted for another party would automatically be excluded. “It’s just part of the rulebook,” she told the BBC. “Everyone knows that.” “It’s just part of the rule book. Everyone knows that,” she added.
Others, however, said the move failed to take into account the exceptional circumstances of the Brexit debate. The former home secretary Charles Clarke called for Campbell’s reinstatement and was also one of those to say they had voted for the Lib Dems in the European elections. Campbell, a prominent campaigner for a second referendum, said he had voted tactically to try and make the leadership alter its position on Brexit.
“His expulsion from Labour party membership is a disgrace and only compounds Labour’s current political difficulties,” Clarke said. “I also voted Liberal Democrat. This was a one-off decision because of the hopeless incoherence of Labour’s position, particularly that of Jeremy Corbyn, on Brexit.” After his expulsion on Tuesday, he said: “I think it’s a strange thing to do, and I think people will inevitably draw the contrast between the lack of rapidity in dealing with cases involving antisemitism.”
The former defence secretary Bob Ainsworth said he had voted Green, and Fiona Mactaggart, a former minister, Lib Dem. It was “time for us all to declare: ‘I am Spartacus,’”, she said. Tom Watson, Labour’s deputy leader, said the decision was spiteful. On the same day, the Equality and Human Rights Commission launched a formal investigation over whether the party has unlawfully discriminated against, harassed or victimised people because they are Jewish.
Campbell said after his expulsion that he would appeal the decision. The party came third behind the Brexit party and the Lib Dems in the European elections, a result many have blamed on its inexplicit Brexit position.
On Wednesday, Corbyn pledged that Labour would back a public vote on any Brexit deal put to parliament.
LabourLabour
Alastair CampbellAlastair Campbell
European electionsEuropean elections
European parliamentary elections 2019European parliamentary elections 2019
Liberal DemocratsLiberal Democrats
Jeremy Corbyn
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