News / Politics
Rees questioned as Corbyn row deepens
Bristol’s Labour Party is calling for calm amid claims of members being “demonised” and threatened for airing their views in the row over Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership.
Warnings over the divisions came in an email to Labour members, seen by Bristol24/7, at the end of a week which has seen demonstrations on the streets as the the city’s three Labour MPs turned their backs on the party leader in a vote of no confidence.
City mayor Marvin Rees is refusing to become embroiled in the row, telling Bristol24/7 on Friday, after repeated requests for his views: “I’m not sharing my stand, my priority is that Jeremy is well and the party survives to be a strong political voice up in Westminster.”
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The mayor, who was visited by Corbyn four times in the run-up to his election and once in the immediate aftermath of the results, added: “I would love to speak out, but my judgement is that it would undermine my position as mayor who has to work for all people across all of Bristol and work with my party, in which people have varying opinions.
“People may disagree, but that’s my position. I’ve known Jeremy for a year now, he’s a good man, he’s authentic, he’s 100 per cent and I want him to be well, but I want the party to be well too and it’s critical that we have a functioning Labour party.”
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The email to members from chair of Bristol Labour Party Eileen Means said: “In these very unusual circumstances, many people have contacted this executive committee of Bristol Labour to express their deep unhappiness and concern at the terms used, and even threats.”
She called for a stop to the “persistent demonising of members due to their view”, saying the party must “remain together and discuss the party’s situation respectfully” during the crisis.
Bristol East MP Kerry McCarthy, quit her post as shadow environment secreatry on Sunday, while Bristol South and Bristol West MPs Karin Smyth and Thangam Debbonaire quit their shadow ministerial posts shortly after. All three supported a vote of no confidence against Corbyn.
McCarthy has defended herself against criticism on Twitter from former mayor candidate Paul Saville:
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