Chris Williamson’s campaign against his expulsion from Labour is descending into farce as he battles a fellow Labour MP and warns his own supporters not to resign in his name. Williamson is currently suspended by the Labour Party, following remarks he made about anti-Semitism.
This week, the “campaign for Chris Williamson” launched a crowdfunder in support of the Derby North MP, which claims his referral to Labour’s National Constitutional Committee is “unlawful and against Labour’s rules”. But the crowdfunder has provoked Labour MPs. After Williamson retweeted the campaign’s call for support, adding “solidarity now would be very much appreciated”, Neil Coyle, the Labour Bermondsey and Old Southwark MP, replied: “Getting in the sea would be very much appreciated.” When pressed, Coyle added, of Williamson: “I think he’d float.” Williamson swiftly hit back, saying it was “apt” that Coyle referred to a “witch hunt”, adding: “I’m sorry you’re still bitter that your own CLP invited me to speak about open selections last year. Democracy is a wonderful thing.”
But Gemma Doyle, the chair of Coyle’s CLP, claimed: “We did not invite you to speak.” Not to be short-changed either, Coyle apologised “for any confusion”, explaining: “I wasn’t suggesting for a second that you were a woman able to swim in the 1600s. For the avoidance of doubt, I just meant that you were a s**t. Hope that clears things up.” “Tragic,” mused Williamson. Coyle has since blocked him on Twitter.
The suspended Labour MP didn’t just have Coyle to contend with. Last night, he railed against an apparent grassroots campaign encouraging Labour members to “resign for Chris”.
The hashtag began trending on Twitter as opponents of Williamson attempted to lure Williamson supporters into quitting Labour. “Comrades,” wrote one, “if you are a socialist and not a member of Labour already then you need to #JoinForChris then immediately #ResignForChris.” The MP had to issue a clarification, writing: “I urge all Labour members to stay in the party and continue the fight.”
A purr-fect match
Newly appointed Chancellor Sajid Javid has finally been granted an audience with the most important member of the Treasury: Gladstone the Cat.
Last night, the mouser, wearing his signature red bow-tie, shared a picture on his official Instagram account confirming The Saj has his seal of approval. “It was great to meet the fur-midable new Chancellor. Stop by any time.” A Treasury source told The Londoner: “It’s a beautiful friendship in the making — though one that could see him in trouble at home… Bailey Javid, the most famous pooch in Westminster, will not be amused.”
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Labour says it’s ready for a general election yet its internal election for the Conference Arrangements Committee is shambolic: many haven’t received their voting papers. The party confirmed to The Londoner that there were problems which they were trying to resolve. Let’s hope it’s not a cunning ploy to deny moderate members their vote.
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Rishi Sunak, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, said on Today this morning: “At some point we will be leaving the EU, hopefully by the end of October.” Not exactly do-or-die language. Yet, 20 minutes later on Sky he declared: “We want to leave by October 31 - no ifs, no buts.” Did Dominic Cummings give him a call?
Chilled-out Nile can still freak out
Musician Nile Rodgers says he wishes everyone could be in a state of “relaxed joyfulness all the time”. Rodgers shares a theory that there are three brain states, which he explains with the example of a deer at a watering hole.
“If the deer’s in a state of relaxed joyfulness then he’s there drinking water and everything is fine,” he tells Krishnan Guru-Murthy’s podcast. “The second state is not sure, he looks round to see if there are any predators. The third is fight or flight.”
Rodgers, though, also admits that relaxed joyfulness is not always possible “because some things eat other things”.
SW1A
Penny Mordaunt might have lasted only 85 days as Defence Secretary but she’s not bitter about her dismissal. In this week’s Spectator, she recalls the day last week she was given the boot in the PM’s first reshuffle. “By 16.30hrs on Wednesday, in 40 degrees Celsius of Commons fug, I’m fired. Job done. Ours is not to reason why. Good command cheerfully accepts all missions with humour and loyalty.”
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Emily Thornberry MP has a bona fide solution to getting through the week. “Silk Cut,” she tells Grazia. “Twenty on a bad day, four on a good day.” Oh, and gin. “But I’m not telling you how much on a bad day.”
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It’s all coming up Brexit — the Conservatives have installed a countdown clock at HQ, marking the time until we leave the EU. Party chairman James Cleverly posted a photo of himself pointing at it last night, when it read: “92 days, 4 hours, 38 minutes, 52 seconds”. If only it could stay there.
Cheddar's guests say cheese at LGBT Foundation event
To London Fields for a brilliant cause last night: eco-friendly cleaning brand Method’s “Drag Cleans” show in aid of the LGBT Foundation. Guests including Laura Whitmore, Munroe Bergdorf, Daisy Lowe, Oliver Proudlock and Jodie Harsh enjoyed a DJ set by Nick Grimshaw and electrifying performances by Anna Phylactic and Cheddar Gorgeous.
Down in Goodwood, Fitzdares hosted The Great British Sewing Bee’s Patrick Grant and TV presenter Pips Taylor for a day of racing and a £50 bet on the house. Taylor told The Londoner: “I was invited to a couple of big, snazzy Love Island parties on Monday night but I snubbed them to watch it with some neighbours in my mews with a curry takeaway. Now I’m going to watch Love Island Australia.” Meanwhile, Grant lamented: “Yeah, everyone talks about Love Island but actually Sewing Bee gets much higher viewing figures.”
Quote of the Day
'I'm never gonna be 27 - that's too old' - Age too will come for 17-year-old superstar Billie Eilish
