'Outrageous slur!' Huge BBC Question Time ROW erupts between Labour MP and rebel MP
A HUGE row erupted on BBC Question Time last night between Labour MP Andy McDonald and Labour defector MP Chris Leslie as Jeremy Corbyn’s party continues to be embroiled in a despite over the handling of anti-Semitism.
Question Time: Labour MP slams Leslie for 'outrageous slur'
Seven Labour Party MPs officially left the party on Monday – including Luciana Berger, Chuka Umunna, Gavin Shuker, Chris Leslie, Angela Smith and Mike Gapes Ann Coffey – following the huge divide over both Brexit and the party's ongoing anti-Semitism row. One of the now eight Labour MPs to leave the party to join the Independent Group was Chris Leslie who complained about the party’s failure to tackle anti-Semitism.
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That is an outrageous slur. I would suggest you just recoil on that a little bit
The row started when Middlesbrough MP Andy McDonald said: “My heart goes out to people like Luciana who has had to suffer that level of abuse.
“It is absolutely dreadful. Diane Abbott has also received a terrible amount of abuse. I wish people would not do this. This is a dreadful thing to do.
“They think they can do it form the comfort of their own home on a mobile phone and just reap all sorts of havoc and saying things which are just totally untrue.”
The Independent MP hit back and told the BBC Question Time audience that Ms Berger and other MPs have been for years demanding action to help tackle the issue.
Mr Leslie added: “If you believe and respect what Luciana has said, she has come to the conclusion that because of this intolerance within the Labour Party, she has had to leave and your response to that is that she should have a by-election.
“Do you really think she should have to? Is that the response?”
Mr McDonald blasted: “No. I think that when people leave a party if you want to stand for something else you should have a by-election.”
The Labour defector then asked Mr McDonald whether Ms Berger should “take the abuse”, which prompted a furious response from the Middlesbrough MP and said: “Absolutely not Chris.
“And for you to suggest that I would promote that is absolutely outrageous for you to suggest.”
Mr Leslie demanded to know why the Labour Party has not acted on the complaints of anti-Semitism.
Mr McDonald replied: “The Labour Party has acted on it. You know that since the Chakrabarti report those recommendations have been implemented.”
The Independent MP paused and then said: “You mean Baroness Chakrabarti who was given a peerage after her independent report?”
In response, the Labour MP accused Mr Leslie of making an “outrageous slur” and said: “Oh, dear me. Are you criticise her integrity over that report? That is just outrageous.
“That is an outrageous slur. I would suggest you just recoil on that a little bit.”
Mr Leslie said: “I do not believe Shami Chakrabarti’s recommendations have been implemented. I do not believe that it is appropriate that an independent report then resulted in somebody joining the shadow cabinet in that way.
Ian Austin brands the Labour party a ‘DISGRACE’
“I just don’t think it is right.”
The Labour MP fired back: “That is an outrageous slur against a good colleague but you seem to be in the business of that.
“You know that council has been appointed to the party. The staff has been doubled to deal with these issues. They are being dealt with much more frequently than they.”
Deputy Labour leader Tom Watson uploaded the grave message to his Facebook account on Monday, warning that Labour must change or face further resignations.
Mr Watson lashed out at the handling of anti-Semitism allegations and said Luciana Berger was a casualty of "a virulent form of identity politics that has seized the Labour Party".
Mr Corbyn released a statement following the resignations and said: “I am disappointed that these MPs have felt unable to continue to work together for the Labour policies that inspired millions at the last election and saw us increase our vote by the largest share since 1945.”
