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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Ex-MP Mahon leaves Labour party | Ex-MP Mahon leaves Labour party |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Former Labour MP Alice Mahon has confirmed to the BBC that she has written to the party informing it of her resignation. | Former Labour MP Alice Mahon has confirmed to the BBC that she has written to the party informing it of her resignation. |
| Mrs Mahon, 71, was a member of parliament for Halifax from 1987 until 2005, when she quit the Commons. | Mrs Mahon, 71, was a member of parliament for Halifax from 1987 until 2005, when she quit the Commons. |
| Her resignation letter has been sent to the Halifax Constituency Labour Party. | Her resignation letter has been sent to the Halifax Constituency Labour Party. |
| "It is not a party I recognise - I have lost faith with it," she told the BBC. "I am very very sad, the Labour party has been my life." | "It is not a party I recognise - I have lost faith with it," she told the BBC. "I am very very sad, the Labour party has been my life." |
| 'Bewilderment' | 'Bewilderment' |
| Mrs Mahon said it had taken "months of agonising to reach my decision." | |
| She said the final push came after the recent scandal surrounding emails sent by Mr Brown's special adviser, Damian McBride, who sent emails proposing unfounded slurs about senior Tories. | She said the final push came after the recent scandal surrounding emails sent by Mr Brown's special adviser, Damian McBride, who sent emails proposing unfounded slurs about senior Tories. |
| Alice Mahon: "Its not a party I recognise" | |
| Mrs Mahon is also angry at the government's Welfare Reform Bill saying it was "an assault on people with disabilities and the poor" and that it was remarkable it was being inflicted "in the middle of a recession". | Mrs Mahon is also angry at the government's Welfare Reform Bill saying it was "an assault on people with disabilities and the poor" and that it was remarkable it was being inflicted "in the middle of a recession". |
| She expressed her frustration at the failure of the government to tackle the excesses of UK bankers. | She expressed her frustration at the failure of the government to tackle the excesses of UK bankers. |
| "There is bewilderment that as a government we have not taken on the bankers, who are still doing as they please and taking large bonuses," she said. | "There is bewilderment that as a government we have not taken on the bankers, who are still doing as they please and taking large bonuses," she said. |
| I have reached the conclusion that there is not any avenue left in the structure of the Labour party for people like me. Alice Mahon | |
| She also lambasted the "energy fat cats" who were "hiking up prices". | She also lambasted the "energy fat cats" who were "hiking up prices". |
| "Government seem unwilling or unable to take them on, we expect the Labour Party to take people on in that situation." | "Government seem unwilling or unable to take them on, we expect the Labour Party to take people on in that situation." |
| "I have reached the conclusion that there is not any avenue left in the structure of the Labour party for people like me. | "I have reached the conclusion that there is not any avenue left in the structure of the Labour party for people like me. |
| "Any threat from anybody marginally from the left and the party machine comes down on them like a ton of bricks. | "Any threat from anybody marginally from the left and the party machine comes down on them like a ton of bricks. |
| Peace activist | Peace activist |
| During her time in the Commons she was one of Labour's most consistent backbench rebels, opposing the government on a range of issues from cuts in lone parent benefits to National Missile Defence. | During her time in the Commons she was one of Labour's most consistent backbench rebels, opposing the government on a range of issues from cuts in lone parent benefits to National Missile Defence. |
| She is a self-proclaimed socialist with a long record of peace activism and was one of the most vocal critics of the war in Iraq. | She is a self-proclaimed socialist with a long record of peace activism and was one of the most vocal critics of the war in Iraq. |
| Mrs Mahon has also spoken on feminist issues, and against curbs on abortion. | Mrs Mahon has also spoken on feminist issues, and against curbs on abortion. |
| In addition she is a strong supporter of gay rights and reform of the House of Lords. | In addition she is a strong supporter of gay rights and reform of the House of Lords. |