News / Politics
MP in Corbyn attack as mayor shares platform
Bristol mayor Marvin Rees shared a platform with Jeremy Corbyn on Sunday, as Bristol West MP Thangam Debbonaire launched a blistering attack on their party leader.
Rees and Corbyn were together in Dorset at the Tolpuddle Martyrs Festival, an annual trades union gathering:
Bristol’s Mayor @MarvinJRees tells how the Labour Party & trade unions helped him overcome obstacles to become Mayor pic.twitter.com/PnmS2uwoKv
— Jeremy Corbyn MP (@jeremycorbyn) July 17, 2016
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In the wake of recent infighting, Rees appealed for party unity during his speech.
When questioned by Bristol24/7 earlier this month, the mayor refused to divulge whether he would be supporting Corbyn in a future leadership contest.
One person undoubtedly not voting for Corbyn will be Debbonaire.
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Read more: ‘Corbyn promoted me then sacked me while I was having cancer treatment’
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Debbonaire revealed:
- Corbyn appointed her to the shadow cabinet without her knowledge or consent
- He sacked her the next day when he realised he had given away part of someone else’s role
- She was reappointed after shadow secretary of state Maria Eagle explained to him he could
- It was “difficult or impossible” to get a decision out of him on important policy issues
- The policy making process was being slowed down by lack of decisions from his office
- It was “unforgivable” that he took a week’s holiday three weeks before the EU referendum
- He is “unwilling and unable” to communicate with anyone outside his narrow group
- He has stated publicly that he is not prioritising winning elections
Debonnaire was chair of a meeting of the Bristol West Labour members last week which has alternatively been described as “close to bullying” and “overwhelmingly civil” by those who attended.
The former professional cellist and Bristol’s two other Labour MPs have also had their funding withdrawn by the Communication Workers Union (CWU).
But it was Debonnaire who came in for the strongest criticism, as the CWU said that she is “not welcome back” at their campaign office in Lawrence Hill.
A spokesperson for Corbyn told Bristol24/7: “There was some miscommunication over Thangam’s appointment as shadow minister for the arts, but at no point was she sacked.”
Photo courtesy of www.debbonaire.co.uk
Read more: ‘Labour meeting left me in tears’
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