Labour’s Catherine McKinnell quits shadow cabinet

Last Updated: January 11, 2016By

It seems odd that Catherine McKinnell should quit as shadow attorney general, partly because of negativity and “internal conflict” in the Labour Party, when her actions are only likely to prolong those very issues.

It’s also odd that Paul Brand of ITV should use this resignation to point out that Labour now has no MPs from the northeast of England in the shadow cabinet, when Ms McKinnell makes it abundantly clear in her resignation letter that part of her problem is “The logistics of managing family life in Newcastle with my work down in Westminster”.

A quick glance at her resignation letter makes it clear that this is her main reason for leaving, with frustration at being unable to comment on issues outside her shadow cabinet brief coming second.

But here is how the BBC reported it:

Shadow attorney general Catherine McKinnell has resigned from the shadow cabinet, citing concerns over Labour’s direction under Jeremy Corbyn.

Ms McKinnell said Labour was heading down an “increasingly negative path” amid “internal conflict” stemming from the recent shadow cabinet reshuffle.

With a “heavy heart”, she said she had concluded she could better serve the party from the backbenches.

And BBC executives reckon they don’t have a problem with bias!
Source: Labour’s Catherine McKinnell quits shadow cabinet – BBC News

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No Comments

  1. Susan de Villiers January 11, 2016 at 1:15 pm - Reply

    her letter does not seem to criticise JC at all …

    • The Infamous Culex January 11, 2016 at 6:27 pm - Reply

      Perhaps that is why the impartial Tory spokesdroid at the BBC had to invent that story.

    • John Gaines January 12, 2016 at 10:34 am - Reply

      The old have your cake and Eat it ploy, MS fat face is working both sides of the Street, an urgent need elsewhere (liar) and an I shall returrn when convenient. Make no mistake, class her as TORY LITE, AND GET RID OF IT.

  2. casalealex January 11, 2016 at 2:02 pm - Reply

    The media insist on using odious negative ‘political’ ’news’ reports; blatantly showing their prejudice against Corbyn.

    By only recording parts of this MP’s statement. (which causes the whole to be misinterpreted), and completely ignoring the main content in that statement, which is mainly for personal family reasons. We must be vigilant in checking other reports on each and every ‘report’

  3. yarmouthboy January 11, 2016 at 3:28 pm - Reply

    Of course it doesn’t criticise Jeremy Corbyn. That is the good old omni present Right Wing spinners doing that.

  4. shaun January 11, 2016 at 3:38 pm - Reply

    It’s seams quite clear that the traditional media, and a few on other platforms, are out to discredit Jeremy Corbyn and that they are aided by Blairite minsters and M.P.’s . However, Ms McKinnell M.P. is not one them; or at least, she’s resigned and chose not chose to maximise the damage it would the Labour party. That these Tory-lite minsters are leaving so early in the life of the parliament, to my mind, is a good thing for Labour and could help us get elected. It’s better for Labour as having ministers that echo Conservative policy is, almost by definition, not in the interest of the Labour party and its supporters. As to the next election, let’s get these Tory-lite M.P’s out of the shadow cabinet on the back benches, where the constant back-stabbing will less dangerous and their own ability to influence policies will be severely reduced.
    shaunt

  5. Dez January 11, 2016 at 4:48 pm - Reply

    That is very concerning that the BBC do not employ anyone who can read properly or worse make up political statements that do not even exist. Was this to make the story more interesting politically or just their normal survival mode of being ultra nice to the Cons.and the Cons will be nice to a pro Cons BBC. To be frank if this is where the BBC IS going politically I would sooner see them go rather than being a Cons mouthpiece.

  6. casalealex January 13, 2016 at 9:24 am - Reply

    The MP for Newcastle Upon Tyne North also said she was finding it more difficult to balance her professional and family commitments since the birth of her third child last year.

    But she also expressed concerns about the “situation in which Labour now finds itself”.

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