Labour general secretary Jennie Formby

At the beginning of this month, an array of female Labour MPs were prominent on social media to defend pregnant MP Ellie Reeves against potential deselection by local members.

This week Tom Watson – technically if not in practice the deputy leader of the party – launched an unconscionable public attack on Labour general secretary Jennie Formby, who is battling cancer. The Labour parliamentary women who stood in public solidarity on social media with Ms Formby against Watson’s shameful conduct are shown below:

Diane Abbott

.@tom_watson knows perfectly well that he cannot make “demands” of Jennie Formby. She is only answerable to @UKLabour NEC. And very wrong to imply that she is dealing with this matter with anything less than her usual professionalism @JennieGenSec https://t.co/pCwOF1su2C — Diane Abbott MP (@HackneyAbbott) July 11, 2019

Laura Smith

A General Secretary cannot be beyond reproach but relentlessly attacking a woman who is currently receiving gruelling cancer treatment without acknowledging the full facts is cruel. Take care to my friend @JennieGenSec pic.twitter.com/s4eL0MViIv — Laura Smith (@LauraSmithCrewe) July 11, 2019

Laura Pidcock

Spoke to @JennieGenSec last night about @DurhamGala. She’s gutted to be missing it, in large part because of cancer treatment. She went to Shadow Cabinet though. That’s how dedicated she is. When she says she’s already offered @tom_watson the info he says he wants,I 💯 trust her. — Laura Pidcock (@LauraPidcock) July 12, 2019

Emma Dent Coad

Solidarity with @JennieGenSec. On the day a report on parliamentary bullying is published, Watson has been relentless. Shame on him. https://t.co/6gyo0INAJM — Emma Dent Coad (@emmadentcoad) July 11, 2019

Rebecca Long-Bailey

@JennieGenSec facing an onslaught at the moment. She is a brilliant and strong woman but sadly all this occurs whilst undergoing chemotherapy. Quiet, intense contemplation, discussion and analysis of very serious issues is what is required. — Rebecca Long-Bailey (@RLong_Bailey) July 12, 2019

Karen Lee

Ms Lee has a personal history of loss to cancer and knows how hard it is.

Eight years ago I watched my daughter fight breast cancer & know it’s s gruelling battle, both physically and emotionally. Sending love & solidarity to @JennieGenSec ❤️ — Karen Lee (@Karen_karenelee) July 11, 2019

Danielle Rowley

It’s disgraceful for Tom Watson to publicly attack @JennieGenSec while she is undergoing chemotherapy – a horrible and draining cancer treatment, which she took time out of to talk to Shadow Cabinet, and she has offered to meet with him. There is no need for this attack. https://t.co/U6ErOMaK03 — Danielle Rowley (@DaniRowley) July 11, 2019

Margaret Greenwood

A number of women on Labour’s National Executive Committee have also made their support clear:

Claudia Webbe

Ms Webbe was one of the first – but not the last – to speak out. She also called for Watson to resign over his bullying:

@tom_watson your engaged in public attacks on the Labour Party’s General Secretary @JennieGenSec despite your clear knowledge she is receiving chemotherapy treatment for cancer. This is not behaviour befitting of the Office of Deputy Leader. You should consider your position? — Claudia Webbe MP (@ClaudiaWebbe) July 11, 2019

Ann Henderson

Not appropriate for @tom_watson to publicly attack senior Labour staff. @JennieGenSec should be supported, and given credit for work done to speed up disciplinary processes, tackling anti-Semitism and racism. Clear that we (@uklabour) will be cooperating fully with #EHRC inquiry. https://t.co/1s2kbxktkQ — Ann Henderson (@AnnDHenderson) July 11, 2019

Andi Fox

If your Labour MP is a woman who has also publicly shown solidarity with Ms Formby, please put a note in the comments so the article can be updated.

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