EMILY Thornberry has thrown her hat into the ring for the Labour leadership days after she was accused of calling Brexit voters “stupid”.
Ms Thornberry is the first candidate to confirm they want to replace Jeremy Corbyn – following the party’s disastrous election defeat.
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THORN IN THEIR SIDE
The Islington South MP could end up fighting for the leadership with Rebecca Long Bailey, Angela Rayner, Lisa Nandy, Keir Starmer, Clive Lewis and David Lammy – who are all expected to announce themselves.
Ms Thornberry told The Guardian that she warned Labour colleagues that backing an election focused on Brexit would be an “act of catastrophic political folly”.
She added that the decision was like “crackers voting for Christmas”.
It comes after fuming Labour MPs told Mr Corbyn he was the “biggest drag” on their election in a brutal party bloodletting.
Seething backbenchers queued up to tear into the party boss for leading them to the worst election defeat since 1935 at a parliamentary showdown, last night.
BORIS BATTLES
The former shadow foreign secretary also tried to impress Labour members by claiming she used to thrash Boris Johnson at the despatch box when he was her opposite number.
She said: “I took the fight to him every day, and pummelled him every week.
I took the fight to him every day, and pummelled him every week.
Emily Thornberry
“Each time, the mask slipped, and we saw the real man – a mendacious, lazy, dangerous charlatan, unable to hide behind the tiresome smokescreen of bluster he usually relies on.”
However, while Ms Thornberry desperately tries to convince supporters to back her in a race against Corbynites like Ms Long-Bailey and Mr Starmer – she is also fighting another battle of her own.
CIVIL WAR
On Sunday, ousted Labour MP Caroline Flint alleged she called Leave voters “stupid” during an incendiary interview with Sky News’ Sophy Ridge.
It came after Ms Flint said anti-Brexit frontbenchers like Mr Starmer and Ms Thornberry were responsible for sacrificing dozens of Labour seats in the election.
The ex-MP represented the Leave-backing Don Valley from 1997 until she was booted out by Tory candidate Nick Fletcher.
She [Thornberry] said to one of my colleagues ‘I’m glad my constituents aren’t as stupid as yours’. I’m sorry it’s unacceptable.
Caroline Flint
She said: “Keir Starmer led us to a policy that didn’t listen to Labour leave voices that urged caution.
“He led us down a path of a 2nd referendum and I’m afraid Emily Thornberry as well.
“She said to one of my colleagues ‘I’m glad my constituents aren’t as stupid as yours’.
“I’m sorry it’s unacceptable.”
She added: “We shouldn’t for one minute think that a change of leader is going to create an election victory for us.”
‘TOTAL LIE’
Ms Thornberry was also widely criticised five years ago when she mocked a white van man for draping an England flag out of the window of his home.
But she blasted the comments by Ms Flint as “total lie” and revealed she was considering legal advice for defamation.
As long as it’s true I will take it on the chin. But you can’t make up sh*t about me. And if they do, I have to take it to the courts.
Emily Thornberry
Ms Thornberry said: “I contacted her and said ‘Please withdraw. I will give you until the end of the day.’ And she hasn’t. So I’ve had to go to solicitors.
“People can slag me off. As long as it’s true I will take it on the chin.
“But you can’t make up sh*t about me. And if they do, I have to take it to the courts.
“I would never even think that, let alone say it. It’s a complete lie.”
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