Labour candidate for key seat attacked Jeremy Corbyn's 'bonkers left-wing policies'

A candidate chosen to fight a crucial Westminster seat for the Labour party once said he could never support Jeremy Corbyn "or his bonkers unworkable radically left-wing policies".



Tony Lywood also branded the Labour leader "unelectable", compared him to "Orangemen locked in a struggle that no longer exists" and said he should be replaced as leader.

His previous comments, which he made on Facebook, came to light after he was selected as Labour's candidate for the Copeland seat at the next election.

The constituency had been held by the party since it was created in 1983 before the Conservative Trudy Harrison won it at a by-election last year. She then retained it at the general election with a majority of 1,695.

After defeating former Labour MP Thomas Docherty to secure the Labour nomination, Mr Lywood - who was backed by Momentum - tweeted: "I am humbled to be selected as parliamentary candidate for Copeland Labour. I am looking forward to working to win Copeland back for Labour and make Jeremy Corbyn Prime Minster so that the kind of practical socialist policies popularised in the 2017 manfiesto can be implemented."

I am humbled to be selected as parliamentary candidate for Copeland Labour. I am looking forward to working to win Copeland back for Labour and make Jeremy Corbyn Prime Minster so that the kind of practical socialist policies popularised in the 2017 Manfiesto can be implemented. — Tony Lywood (@TonyForCopeland) 24 March 2018

However, Facebook posts by Mr Lywood reveal that the Copeland councillor has not always backed Mr Corbyn.

In one, written in 2016 during the attempt to unseat the Labour leader by his own MPs, he said: "Everywhere I turn the Corbynista are there. The fact that he is principled should not blind you to the fact that he is a throwback to an age of class war that is now gone.

"I have not and will never support him or his bonkers unworkable radically left-wing policies that will bring nothing but ruin to the party (and country if he were ever to win an election which is highly unlikely)."

In another post, Mr Lywood said: "Perhaps we should dig up Marx and get him to tell Corbyn that the old war is over and there are different fights to be had.

"He is the political equivalent of Orangemen, locked in a struggle that no longer exists ... Corbyn is our conscience but he should not be our leader."

And in another critical post, he said: "I am afraid I cannot and will not support and unelectable leader. Barking in the wilderness is just that. Opinions without responsibility and dogma without power. Without getting elected we cannot do anything."

Ironically given his past criticism, Mr Lywood has had support from a number of Jeremy Corbyn's frontbench allies, suggesting he was the leader's preferred candidate.

Delighted to have another shadow cabinet member backing our campaign. Thank you Jon Trickett MP for your support! pic.twitter.com/DGja4Fqwa0 — Tony Lywood (@TonyForCopeland) 17 March 2018





Honoured to have Laura Pidcock MP, one of Labour's rising stars, supporting our campaign. pic.twitter.com/FD8pOcKOZ0 — Tony Lywood (@TonyForCopeland) 10 March 2018

Thanks @RichardBurgon for giving your support to our campaign it is very much appreciated. pic.twitter.com/lkvS62l5wZ — Tony Lywood (@TonyForCopeland) 7 March 2018

Huge congratulations to Tony Lywood (@TonyForCopeland) who has been selected as Labour's candidate for Copeland. He'll be a formidable candidate and a great MP. Very best of luck Tony https://t.co/AaqlAZB7fS — Chris Williamson MP (@DerbyChrisW) 24 March 2018

Mr Lywood has has also backed by Jamie Reed, who was Copeland MP before standing down last year.

Great campaigner when I was an MP. Fiercely clever and a really nice bloke. https://t.co/WsAz5q9psA — Jamie Reed (@JamieFonzarelli) 24 March 2018