Labour left-wingers have come out of their showdown meeting with Sir Keir Starmer saying “significant disagreement remains” over the sacking of Rebecca Long-Bailey.
The new Labour leader held a meeting with the party’s Socialist Campaign Group which includes former leader Jeremy Corbyn and ex-frontbenchers Diane Abbott and John McDonnell.
Sir Keir’s allies called it a “constructive and business-like” meeting but a statement issued from the Socialist Campaign Group said there was still “disagreement”.
They said: “On the sacking of Rebecca Long-Bailey from the shadow cabinet, it was clear that significant disagreement remains on this point.
“The Socialist Campaign Group of Labour MPs made it clear that Rebecca Long-Bailey should not have been sacked and should be reinstated.”
The statement went on to say the MPs raised issues about the Israeli government, adding: “The imminent annexation of the West Bank by Israel’s government was discussed and the need for the Labour Party, MPs, party members and supporters to speak out against Israel’s illegal annexation and ongoing human right abuses by the government of Israel was raised.”
They said they also raised concerns about the Labour Party’s response to the review into leaks and the 2017 “electoral sabotage” and treatment of black MPs.
They added: “This was a business like exchange of views which took place in a mutually respectful manner.”
Members of the group have also been sharing a petition calling for Sir Keir to reverse her sacking.
Sir Keir fired his former leadership rival Ms Long-Bailey yesterday following a four-hour standoff after he ordered her to delete a tweet. She had shared an article in which the actress Maxine Peake claimed the police involved in the death of George Floyd learned their “kneeling on the neck” restraint tactics from the Israeli secret services.
