Disgraceful: Former Labour defector lies about MP’s critique of Independent Group

Liar: Ian Austin.

Comments by Scottish Labour MP Paul Sweeney about former colleagues who defected to The Independent Group have proved very interesting – in the way another former Labour MP has lied about them.

Glasgow North East MP Paul Sweeney said the MPs who founded and joined The Independent Group took part in a “necessary cleansing” of Labour.

He described Chris Leslie and Chuka Umunna as “self-centred careerists”.

Mr Leslie was “aloof and arrogant”, he said, adding: “The venom and vitriol with which he addressed our front bench was a disgrace.”

And he applied these criticisms to other Independent Group members who used to be Labour MPs, including Mr Umunna, Mike Gapes and Angela Smith.

But he said Luciana Berger, who also quit Labour to join the Independent Group, had faced “unacceptable bullying”.

And how does Ian Austin, who also quit Labour but didn’t join The Independent Group, present this story?

Like this:

Austin is a liar. Mr Sweeney never said a word about racism and extremism.

In fact, he spoke kindly about Ms Berger, even though none of the bullying she suffered was by Labour Party members.

Austin’s words have only served to prove Mr Sweeney’s point: Labour is cleaner without the Independent Group defectors – and much cleaner without Austin himself.

Source: EXCLUSIVE: Paul Sweeney says defectors were part of a ‘necessary cleansing’ | Morning Star


Vox Political needs your help!
If you want to support this site
(
but don’t want to give your money to advertisers)
you can make a one-off donation here:

Donate Button with Credit Cards

Here are four ways to be sure you’re among the first to know what’s going on.

1) Register with us by clicking on ‘Subscribe’ (in the left margin). You can then receive notifications of every new article that is posted here.

2) Follow VP on Twitter @VoxPolitical

3) Like the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/VoxPolitical/

Join the Vox Political Facebook page.

4) You could even make Vox Political your homepage at http://voxpoliticalonline.com

And do share with your family and friends – so they don’t miss out!

If you have appreciated this article, don’t forget to share it using the buttons at the bottom of this page. Politics is about everybody – so let’s try to get everybody involved!

Buy Vox Political books so we can continue
fighting for the facts.


The Livingstone Presumption is now available
in either print or eBook format here:

HWG PrintHWG eBook

Health Warning: Government! is now available
in either print or eBook format here:

HWG PrintHWG eBook

The first collection, Strong Words and Hard Times,
is still available in either print or eBook format here:

SWAHTprint SWAHTeBook

2 thoughts on “Disgraceful: Former Labour defector lies about MP’s critique of Independent Group

  1. Michael McNulty

    Even if these charlatans manage to rob us of a Corbyn-led government one thing they can never change is how Jeremy has shown millions of people a new way is possible. He leads a political party but I think more than that he started a political movement.

  2. 4foxandhare

    Well said, Michael McNulty. I agree with you but I’m still hoping for a Labour government, with Corbyn as Prime Minister.

Comments are closed.