Blairite loyalist, Ann Clwyd MP has been ousted as Chair of the Parliamentary Party. Tony Lloyd not some one particularly of the left but an Anti war MP never the less, has been elected to the role. Apparently many MP’s did not feel Clwyd represented their views. Lloyd won by 169 votes to 156.
Clearly some Labour MP’s, previously loyal, are finally finding some backbone by voting against one of Blair’s (and Browns) chosen one. I hope they show similar independence in the nomination process for leader? It is in the same MP’s hands as to whether we have a proper debate about the future direction of the Labour Party by ensuring John McDonnell is on the ballot paper when the leadership election is finally called.
2 comments:
Aah, well done Tony. We love u lots and lots in Manchester. Opposes the labour Government on occasions but never once has he forgotton what a labour Government is there for. Legend and a Manchester MP as well an amicus member. Well done mate!
I'm not sure it's to do with New Labour. Clwyd was never a Blairite (famously being sacked from the frontbench in the mid-90s, and replaced by Clare Short). This was about Iraq. Clwyd was a noted left-wing supporter of the war. I think this votes reflects a growing feeling in the PLP that they were lied to about Iraq.
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