EXCL Louise Ellman: I will stay in the Labour party and fight its anti-semitism problem

Emilio Casalicchio

Labour MP Louise Ellman has vowed to stay in the party and fight the anti-semitism crisis after speculation she could be the next to break ranks and join the newly formed Independent Group.



The Liverpool Riverside MP, who has faced anti-semitic attacks from within her constituency Labour party, admitted to PoliticsHome she was “agonising” about whether or not to quit.

But she said: “I am a fighter - I am still fighting this from inside the party.”

Eight Labour MPs last week quit the party and formed the Independent Group in the Commons, alongside three Tory MPs.

They said they were angry about the party position on Brexit and the failure to tackle anti-semitism in Labour ranks.

Speculation was rife over the weekend that Dame Louise, who serves as vice chair of Labour Friends of Israel and faces the threat of deselection in her seat, could be the next to quit.

In an interview with PoliticsHome today, she broke cover and said: “I am agonising over the situation. I’m upset and I’m angry.

“I’ve been in the Labour party for 56 years. I’ve been an elected representative for 50. But I am a fighter - I am still fighting this from inside the party.”

She went on: “The vast majority of members seem to be under the spell of a Corbyn cult.

“There is no clear way to it being broken. People in a cult of that kind find it difficult to recognise the reality of what is happening.”

Asked whether the anti-semitism fight could be won, she said: “I don’t know if it’s winnable but I’m going to stay and fight. I’m used to fighting issues over many years. And I’m not a quitter.”

Dame Louise added: “I’m not used to being defeated and I suspect that the leadership would be delighted if all their opponents left and that’s what’s keeping me.”

She said Mr Corbyn been “rumbled” and had "nowhere to hide" because increasing numbers of MPs, party members and members of the public were seeing the "enormity" of the anti-semitism crisis.

And she added: “[Jeremy Corbyn] needs to act decisively. Up to now he has failed to do that.”

'COULD CHANGE MY MIND'

Elsewhere, Dame Louise said there could be “some point where I change my mind” in the future - but said she had not had any talks with members of the Independent Group about joining.

She said she had full respect for those who quit, including Liverpool Wavetree MP Luciana Berger, who she said had been “hounded out” over her fight against anti-Semitism.

Ms Berger was joined by Chuka Umunna, Chris Leslie, Joan Ryan, Gavin Shuker, Angela Smith, Mike Gapes and Ann Coffey as she quit the party last week.

CHRIS WILLIAMSON

Dame Louise also called for Labour MP Chris Williamson to be suspended from the party “immediately” after he was caught on tape saying Labour had been “too apologetic” about anti-semitism.

She added: “This is a pattern of behaviour. He clearly does not recognise that the Labour party has a major problem with anti-semitism.”

Mr Williamson has since apologised and Labour has said it will launch an investigation into his conduct.