Corbyn-critic John Woodcock quitting as Labour MP - alleges 'manipulated' sexual harassment probe

RT
Wed, 18 Jul 2018 18:39 UTC

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MP John Woodcock

Suspended MP John Woodcock, a long-time critic of leader Jeremy Corbyn has resigned from the Labour party, citing dissatisfaction with the handling of a sexual harassment case brought against him by a female staffer.

Woodcock, the MP for Barrow and Furness, told the Labour leader of his decision on Wednesday, claiming in his letter that the investigation "process has been manipulated for factional purposes."

In his letter he also states that Corbyn would be a "clear risk to UK national security as prime minister," if Labour gained power and that "anti-Semitism is being tolerated" - insisting the party "has been taken over at nearly every level by the hard left.

Woodcock will now serve his constituency as an independent MP. A Labour spokesman issued a statement, saying: "Jeremy thanks John for his service to the Labour Party."

Labour sources insist claims made by Woodcock were "entirely false" and his case was being investigated in line with the same rules as all complaints, the Mirror reports.

"The process is the same for everyone. There is no political involvement in these processes," a source said.

Woodcock's resignation is being hailed by Labour's left. Local party members previously reported him to Labour's National Executive Committee for persistent attempts to undermine Corbyn.

The now-independent MP has consistently come under fire for his support of Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whom he lauded in a 2017 article penned in the pro-government newspaper Daily Sabah. He also faced criticism for a recent visit to Saudi Arabia and has faced his own accusations of anti-Semitism.

Comment: RT further reports:

Woodcock, a fierce critic of Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, was suspended amid claims he sent inappropriate messages and emails to a former female staff member during the two years she worked at the party. The Daily Mirror reported on Sunday that the woman had left her job in 2016 because the correspondence made her feel uncomfortable.

The MP for Barrow and Furness, who is the partner of the Spectator's assistant editor Isabel Hardman, has said he does not accept the claims. He went on to say that, following the complaint made last November, Labour's harassment panel referred the case to the party's national constitutional committee.

[...]

A Labour Party spokesperson said he had been suspended "pending due process" and added "it would not be appropriate to comment further on an ongoing case".

Woodcock is a staunch opponent of Corbyn, who he already said he would not support as prime minister. He recently criticized the leader's response to the poisoning of former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury, as well as the alleged chemical weapons attack in the Syrian city of Douma in April.

Local party members reported him to Labour's National Executive Committee for persistent attempts to undermine Corbyn. Woodcock has consistently come under fire for his support of Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whom he lauded in a 2017 article penned in the pro-government newspaper Daily Sabah. He also faced criticism for a recent visit to Saudi Arabia and has faced his own accusations of anti-Semitism.