Long-serving Labour MPs gives up whip amid row on anti-Semitism
The pressure on the leadership of Britain's Labour Party has increased as a long-serving Member of Parliament (MP) resigns his whip to protest what he sees as surging anti-Semitic sentiments within the party.
Frank Field, a Labour representative of Birkenhead in northwest England since 1979, announced Thursday that he would now sit as an independent Labour MP as he could no longer tolerate the increasing anti-Semitism in his party’s leadership.
Field, 76, announced his resignation in a letter to a Labour lawmaker responsible for coordinating members’ vote with the party’s position.
The veteran lawmaker accused the Labour leadership of “doing nothing substantive” to address claims that the party had become anti-Semite.
“It saddens me to say that we are increasingly seen as a racist party,” said Field in his letter to Labour’s chief whip.
The move comes amid a deepening row within the Labour about the party’s refusal to adopt a multi-national code of conduct on anti-Semitism.
Critics have used almost every opportunity to accuse Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn of anti-Semitism, citing numerous evidences he has slammed the Israeli regime’s actions against the Palestinians.
Corbyn, a fervent supporter of Palestine and its right to establish a state, has sought to clarify his stances, saying being anti-Israel has nothing to do with dislike of Jews and racism.
Corbyn and the Labour have refused to change the party’s code of conduct, saying a broader definition of anti-Semitism may violate the rights of Jews who are critical of Israel.
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