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Labour MP faces no-confidence threat over Chris Williamson criticism MP who criticised Chris Williamson will not face a no-confidence vote
(about 3 hours later)
A pregnant Labour MP is facing the threat of a motion of no confidence in her constituency after she signed a statement criticising her party’s decision to readmit Chris Williamson. Labour has insisted that a pregnant MP who reportedly faced a motion of no confidence in her constituency is not under threat, saying no such motion will take place.
Ellie Reeves was one of 121 MPs and peers who backed calls for the Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, to immediately remove the whip from the backbencher, who had been suspended in February for suggesting the party was “too apologetic” about antisemitism. Ellie Reeves, the MP for Lewisham West and Penge since 2017, faced the threat of a no-confidence motion after signing a statement criticising her party’s decision to readmit Chris Williamson.
But it is understood that the person in Reeves’s 2,000-strong constituency Labour party who proposed the idea has since confirmed they would not be formally moving such a motion.
The no-confidence attempt prompted fellow MPs to condemn the move, with shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth calling it “ludicrous”.
The party subsequently said it would not take place. A Labour source said: “It would be wrong to bring a motion of no confidence against a pregnant MP who will soon be on maternity leave.
“No motion has been formally moved or tabled. And in any case, motions of no confidence have no formal standing and do not result in trigger ballots. Any MP who is on parental leave will not undergo reselection processes until they return from leave.”
Williamson was readmitted last Wednesday by a national executive panel that ruled he should only be reprimanded, although on Friday he was suspended again following a backlash that included the letter signed by Reeves and the deputy leader, Tom Watson, among others.Williamson was readmitted last Wednesday by a national executive panel that ruled he should only be reprimanded, although on Friday he was suspended again following a backlash that included the letter signed by Reeves and the deputy leader, Tom Watson, among others.
Chris Williamson: 'no place' in Labour for MP embroiled in antisemitism rowChris Williamson: 'no place' in Labour for MP embroiled in antisemitism row
Now, the constituency Labour party chairman in her Lewisham West and Penge constituency, John Clark, has reportedly received an email from a member who has requested a motion of no confidence in Reeves, who has been MP for the south-east London seat since 2017. According to the website PoliticsHome, the email suggesting the idea said: “I would like to put forward a motion of no confidence in Ellie Reeves our MP for signing Tom Watson MP letter regarding Chris Williamson MP at our next meeting and also start the new trigger process to deselect our MP which you should have received from Jennie Formby.”
According to the website PoliticsHome, the email said: “I would like to put forward a motion of no confidence in Ellie Reeves our MP for signing Tom Watson MP letter regarding Chris Williamson MP at our next meeting and also start the new trigger process to deselect our MP which you should have received from Jennie Formby.”
Reeves, who is 22 weeks pregnant, thanked Labour members for their support on social media after the news broke.Reeves, who is 22 weeks pregnant, thanked Labour members for their support on social media after the news broke.
Miriam Mirwitch, the chair of Young Labour, said on Twitter: “MPs who are pregnant or on maternity leave should be automatically reselected. It’s wrong when bosses sack workers who are pregnant or on maternity leave. The same applies to MPs.”Miriam Mirwitch, the chair of Young Labour, said on Twitter: “MPs who are pregnant or on maternity leave should be automatically reselected. It’s wrong when bosses sack workers who are pregnant or on maternity leave. The same applies to MPs.”
Such a motion would not be able to begin the re-selection process, given that a trigger ballot can only be forced if the move has the support of a third of local party branches or affiliated trade union branches. Ashworth said on Twitter: “My friend Ellie Reeves is a socialist, an ex-trade union lawyer who fought against injustices for working-class people. She’s campaigned against oppression internationally, eg trade unionists in Colombia for years. An excellent MP. Ludicrous no-confidence motion should be binned.”
It is understood the move would not take place in any case while an MP is on maternity leave.
Jonathan Ashworth, the shadow health secretary, said on Twitter: “My friend Ellie Reeves is a socialist, an ex-trade union lawyer who fought against injustices for working-class people. She’s campaigned against oppression internationally, eg trade unionists in Colombia for years. An excellent MP. Ludicrous no-confidence motion should be binned.”
Plans to remove Williamson himself as the Labour candidate for his constituency are also being pursued by local party activists, the Observer reported.Plans to remove Williamson himself as the Labour candidate for his constituency are also being pursued by local party activists, the Observer reported.
A Labour party source said: “No motion has been formally moved or tabled. And in any case, motions of no-confidence have no formal standing and do not result in trigger ballots. Any MP who is on parental leave will not undergo reselection processes until they return from leave.”
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