Union leaders react to Labour ‘splitters’

Union leaders have reacted to the seven MPs who yesterday quit Labour with a mixture of disappointment, criticism and ridicule.

Unite general secretary Len McCluskey told the BBC: “This has been on the cards for a while. It’s a group of individuals who’d chosen a to go on a different path from the one that they stood on just 18 months ago. There’s a strong whiff of hypocrisy here. They stood as Labour MPs, all of them got massive increases on their majority.

“I have to tell them, it wasn’t due to their personal charisma, it was because of the manifesto which promised to respect the referendum and take us out of Europe, so all of their heartbreak about what’s happening with Brexit sounds a little hollow.

“The issue about anti-Semitism is grossly unfair. You have a new general secretary who’s done more in the few months that she’s been in office than previous administrations. She’s increased the number of people who hear these cases, still a very small minority of Labour Party members. I think the whole thing’s contrived.

“Chris Leslie said he could never support Jeremy Corbyn as Prime Minister. He’s been saying that since Jeremy was elected democratically by the members and it exposes exactly what they stand for.

“History will judge them. If they regard themselves as democrats, I wonder if they’ll stand down and create by-elections. A lot of them talk about how proud they are to represent their constituents. If they’re that proud, why don’t they give their constituents the opportunity to see if they want them elected. Their constituents elected a Labour MP on a Corbyn manifesto and all this handwringing from them falls a bit flat.”

UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis said: “This is terrible news and the last thing public service employees across the UK will want to hear.

“Working people need a Labour government but split parties don’t win elections. Labour’s overriding concern must be to look long at hard at the reasons why the MPs feel they are no longer able to stay in the party.

“The party must get its act together over Brexit and ensure the country is spared the calamity of a no deal. Crashing out of Europe would be disastrous for public services and ordinary people across the country, and it must be stopped.”

GMB general secretary Tim Roache said: “It’s hugely disappointing that a handful of MPs chose to attack policies that would change the lives of millions of people as they exit stage right. A new party for tinkering around the edges is categorically not what people in the UK need.

“Of course anti-Semitism must be tackled, the GMB has been very clear on that, but it’s obvious from the contributions made today that for those leaving it’s about far more than that – they fundamentally disagree with policies that the GMB believes would change lives.

“I gritted my teeth through the Blair era, when I disagreed with the Labour government on a host of issues. But I stayed in the party because Labour in power is always better than the alternative.

“It would be unforgivable now for those who have resigned to stand against good Labour candidates, risking a Tory government.”

Usdaw general secretary Paddy Lillis said: “With the country facing a challenging and uncertain future, now is not the time for division. We need a Labour government fighting for the interests of working people in this country and anything that damages that aim is unwelcome.

“The whole of the Labour Party needs to come together and tackle the culture that is sowing division within our Party. From grassroots activists, to MPs, and the leadership, we all have a responsibility to promote a unity of purpose that will deliver a Labour government, whilst also promoting debate and tolerance. It is clear that there are concerns that need to be addressed.”

ASLEF general secretary Mick Whelan said: “I regret that seven MPs have decided they no longer wish to represent their constituencies in Parliament as Labour MPs, especially as that was how they were elected. On a Labour ticket at a general election that inspired millions to vote Labour and saw the party increase its vote by the largest share since 1945.

“Their decision to walk out into the political wilderness – remember the fate of the SDP? – is sad, but not unexpected. The Labour Party’s membership has grown enormously under Jeremy Corbyn and the Labour Party’s genuinely socialist manifesto was incredibly popular at the last election.

“The party’s policies offer the hope of change that people in Britain want. We are a broad church, and now is the time for all Labour MPs to unite behind the leadership in order to win the next election and the bring about the type of society the country is crying out for.

“Because the truth is that the Labour Party is, as it has been since it was founded by the trade unions to represent ordinary hard-working people in Parliament more than 100 years ago, and as it always will be, the greatest force for progress in this country.”

FBU general secretary Matt Wrack tweeted: “Oh well, never mind.”

In a series of tweets, CWU general secretary Dave Ward said: “If this group of MPs truly believe in yesterdays politics then they should stand down and fight by-elections – they were put in Westminster by the Labour movement.”

“This is the worst press conference I have ever watched. It’s everything that voters have turned away from. No policies, no ideas and no direction. Shut the door on the way out.”

“Best bit about this press conference is how each MP has to introduce themselves because nobody knows who they are.”