Labour leadership: Jeremy Corbyn tells supporters 'abuse has no place' in party

Defiant: Jeremy Corbyn said there was no place for abuse but understood people were angry at their MPs
Jack Taylor/Getty Images
Jamie Bullen23 July 2016
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Jeremy Corbyn has stressed there is no room abuse in the Labour Party after more than 40 female MPs challenged him over bullying they had faced.

Mr Corbyn said he understood people were “angry” at the actions of their MPs who attempted to oust him as leader, but said differences should be settled by “democratic” means.

Speaking in Salford, his ally, shadow justice secretary Richard Burgon said MPs needed to show “respect” to ordinary party members.

He compared the portrayal of Mr Corbyn’s supporters with the way striking miners were “demonised” in the 1980s.

He said: “I am not, and others are not, going to stand by and see every single one of you portrayed as the striking miners were, as thugs, brick-throwers, bullies and misogynists.

“It is vitally important that we respect each other with our different views, as we do. But I tell you this, MPs need to respect party members as well.

"MPs shouldn't be abused by members of the Labour Party or those who appear to be members of the Labour Party.

“But honest, decent Labour Party members - the people who made all of these other people MPs - should not be abused or badly treated by MPs."

Mr Corbyn, who is facing a leadership challenge from former shadow work and pensions secretary Owen Smith, urged his followers to remain disciplined.

"We have to be very disciplined. As I have made it very, very clear many times before, I don't do any personal abuse of anybody at any time. None of that has any place in our party or our movement.

"I know people are angry about actions that have been taken but where we have disagreement in our party we settle it through democratic means - no coups, no intimidation, no abuse."

His comments came after 44 women Labour MPs wrote to him in a letter organised by backbencher Paula Sherriff complaining about his "inadequate" response to the abuse.

"Rape threats, death threats, smashed cars and bricks through windows are disgusting and totally unacceptable in any situation," they wrote.

"This is acknowledged by all factions, yet the simple words of condemnation offered in response are inadequate. We expect swift and tangible action against those who commit such acts."

Additional reporting by PA

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