UK Labour MP defects over 'growth of anti-semitism' within the party

In quitting the Labour Party, veteran MP Dame Louise Ellman described Opposition Leader Jeremy Corbyn as being a danger to Britain.

Dame Louise, who is Jewish, said she had been 'deeply troubled' by the 'growth of anti-Semitism' in Labour in recent years.

Dame Louise, who is Jewish, said she had been 'deeply troubled' by the 'growth of anti-Semitism' in Labour in recent years. Source: Getty Images Europe

Britain's Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has been accused of being a danger to the nation by veteran MP Dame Louise Ellman who has quit the party after 55 years.

Dame Louise, 73, who is Jewish, said she had been "deeply troubled" by the "growth of anti-Semitism" in Labour in recent years.

"I have made the truly agonising decision to leave the Labour Party after 55 years," she tweeted on Wednesday.
"I can no longer advocate voting Labour when it risks Corbyn becoming PM."

The Liverpool Riverside MP said she believes "Jeremy Corbyn is not fit to serve as our Prime Minister".

"With a looming general election and the possibility of him becoming Prime Minister, I feel I have to take a stand," she said.

She told the Times newspaper that if he became prime minister, "I believe that Jeremy Corbyn would be a danger to the country, a danger to the Jewish community as well, but a danger to the country too".


Share
Published 17 October 2019 10:14am
Updated 17 October 2019 11:20am


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world