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| Labour to review Alastair Campbell expulsion as part of appeal | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Labour has clarified that it will only review Alastair Campbell’s expulsion from the party as part of the appeal process, with Jeremy Corbyn saying they looked forward to hearing his explanation for voting for the Liberal Democrats. | |
| Campbell, the former director of communications to Tony Blair is appealing against the decision to kick him out of the party after he voted for the Liberal Democrats in the European elections because they are a pro-remain party and back a second referendum. | |
| After a number of Labour figures – from former home secretary Charles Clarke to Cherie Blair – and many grassroots members challenged the party to expel them too for voting Lib Dem, there was a suggestion that the party could reverse its decision. | |
| Shami Chakrabarti, the shadow attorney general, had appeared to say Campbell’s expulsion would be reviewed. | |
| Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme on Thursday, she 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.” Asked if she believed Campbell should be allowed to rejoin the party, she added: “That will depend on what he says about his intentions.” | |
| However, eight hours later, Labour released a statement saying the decision would only be looked at in the context of the appeal process. | |
| Corbyn was also asked about the decision in an interview as he visited Dublin to talk to Irish politicians about Brexit. | |
| “It’s a question of what Mr Camphell said two days before the election in which he apparently appeared to be supporting the Liberal Democrats and whilst he is a member of the Labour party that is clearly not acceptable,” Corbyn said. “But we look forward to hearing what Alastair has to say about this and look forward to his support in the future.” | |
| Campbell subsequently tweeted that “God knows what that is supposed to mean” as his public declaration that he voted Liberal Democrat came two days after the results were announced. | |
| His removal from the party has 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. | |
| Others revealed that they too had been unfaithful to the party. 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. | “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. | 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”. | 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 Freedland | Instead of kicking out Alastair Campbell, Labour should listen to him | Jonathan Freedland |
| “It’s just part of the rule book. Everyone knows that,” she added. | “It’s just part of the rule book. Everyone knows that,” she added. |
| Momentum, the grassroots group of Corbyn supporters, said at the time: “Alastair Campbell’s ‘sexed up’ dossier started the Iraq war and left 1 million dead. Being kicked out of the party is the least he deserves.” | |
| Campbell, a prominent campaigner for a second referendum, said he had voted tactically to try and make the leadership alter its position on Brexit. | Campbell, a prominent campaigner for a second referendum, said he had voted tactically to try and make the leadership alter its position 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.” | 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.” |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. | On Wednesday, Corbyn pledged that Labour would back a public vote on any Brexit deal put to parliament. |
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| European parliamentary elections 2019 | European parliamentary elections 2019 |
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| Jeremy Corbyn | Jeremy Corbyn |
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