Labour MPs who have criticised leader will not be welcome on platform for second year running, say organisers

Labour MPs who have been critical of Jeremy Corbyn have been banned from the official reception of the Durham Miners’ Gala for the second year running.



Alan Cummings, the secretary of the Durham Miners’ Association, said “quite a few” Labour MPs were not welcome on the platform for the annual procession, which he predicted would attract crowds of more than 200,000 people on Saturday.

Cummings told the Guardian: “The Durham Miners’ Association has supported Jeremy for a number of years and we’re fully behind his leadership. Obviously we’ve had problems with some Labour MPs who didn’t support him … They can come on the day, we can’t stop that, but they won’t be enjoying our hospitality.”

Several Labour MPs from the region were blacklisted from the official reception at last year’s gala, which came at the height of a leadership challenge against Corbyn.

Cummings said those disinvited this year included Phil Wilson, the Labour MP for Sedgefield; Helen Goodman, the MP for Bishop Auckland; Anna Turley, the Redcar MP; Emma Lewell-Buck, the South Shields MP, and MPs for Sunderland.

The MPs were banned from the stage last year after the association’s then general secretary, Dave Hopper, accused them of treachery towards the party leader. Hopper, described as a “giant in the Labour movement”, died a week after last year’s gala.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Dave Hopper and Jeremy Corbyn at last year’s gala. Photograph: Ian Forsyth/Getty Images

Cummings said on Friday: “We’re carrying out the line of our late Dave Hopper who made it quite clear last year, and he got the full support of the executive committee, that the platform will reflect the people who have always supported Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership and what he stands for.

“Why should the likes of Phil Wilson and other people in this area who criticise him [share the stage]? Them MPs should realise that if it hadn’t been for the Corbyn factor a lot of them might have lost their seats.”

He added: “They’re not banned – they can come as a member of the public – they’re just not enjoying the hospitality of the Durham Miners’ Association. And they know the reason why.”

Cummings said he expected “Corbynmania” to attract crowds of more than 200,000 to celebrate “the great performance by Jeremy leading up to the election and the election result”. Last year’s gala attracted 150,000 people to the streets of Durham.

Corbyn will give a speech at Saturday’s “Big Meeting”, the 133rd annual celebration of the north-east’s mining heritage and one of the biggest trade union gatherings in Europe.

The Labour leader will share the platform with the filmmaker Ken Loach, a prominent supporter of the Labour leader, as well as the shadow education secretary, Angela Rayner, and union bosses including the Unite chief, Len McCluskey.

Wilson, who disowned Corbyn on his campaign literature before last month’s general election, said he was not bothered about being blacklisted and would be marching in memory of his late father, a miner for 40 years.

“Just because I’ve been critical of Corbyn is not going to stop me going to the miners’ gala, which is as much a part of my heritage as it is anybody’s who is going to be on the platform – in fact even more so than a lot of the speakers, to be honest with you,” he said.

“They can’t stop people from attending – if they don’t want to officially invite you, that’s a matter for them. People know my views on Jeremy Corbyn.”

Wilson added: “I’ve acknowledged that Jeremy Corbyn reached out to a lot of people – students, the young, ethnic minorities – fantastic, as long as the same people who are prepared to accept that are prepared to accept that on the other doorsteps in other communities it was a very, very hard sell. We’re losing our core vote and I think we’ve been in denial.”

Roberta Blackman-Woods, the Labour MP for Durham City who resigned from the party’s frontbench last year because of a lack of confidence in Corbyn, has had her invite reinstated after being blacklisted from last year’s platform.

Blackman-Woods rents her constituency office in the Durham Miners’ Association’s headquarters and was last year warned that the association would be “having a look” at her contract following her no confidence vote against Corbyn.

But on Friday Blackman-Woods said she had a “very good relationship” with the association and would appear on the platform on Saturday. “I think it’s important we all get together and have a united front but it’s very much a Durham Miners event and what I hope is that everyone can get behind the event,” she said.

“I’m sure MPs, even if they’re not doing official things, will be there with their constituents. I think it’s going to be a really good day – there’s an optimism there, people are more optimistic and this year promises to be really, really busy.”

Mike Hill, the new Labour MP for Hartlepool, said he was honoured to have been invited on to the platform for Saturday’s event.

He said: “I’ve only missed it once in 17 years. The gala is a fantastic event and I look forward to a record turnout this year given Jeremy Corbyn’s presence and also in tribute to Davey Hopper from the Durham Miners who sadly passed shortly after last year’s Big Meeting.

“As a new MP I feel a great sense of pride and honour in attending this year and look forward to being on the platform.”