Politics

Gloria De Piero quits Labour frontbench over 'lack of tolerance'


The shadow justice minister, Gloria De Piero, has quit the Labour frontbench and announced she will not be standing at the next general election, citing the party’s “lack of tolerance”.

The former BBC journalist, who has been the MP for Ashfield in Nottinghamshire for nine years, told local members on Friday she did not know if she could give them “the commitment you deserve for what could be a further eight years”.

De Piero, the former shadow minister for young people and voter registration, said a “lack of tolerance for different viewpoints in the Labour party frankly worries me”.

“We have to have respect for each other, even if we disagree, because we are all part of this party,” she added.

“This party is about a set of values not any individual and we would all do well to remember that. And while I’m at it, and it doesn’t happen in Ashfield, but when I hear people being called rightwing in the Labour party I find it utterly offensive.

“We are all leftwingers in this party – that is why we joined the Labour party,” she said.

She tweeted:

Gloria De Piero
(@GloriaDePiero)

Tonight I thanked local Labour members for enabling me to serve the people of Ashfield for 9 yrs. I will continue to give the job ? but I won’t be the Labour candidate at the next election. Thank u for giving me the opportunity to serve. It’s been the greatest honour of my life.


July 19, 2019

Her resignation comes as the Jewish Leadership Council said Labour must take stronger action against antisemitism in the party.

A letter from the Jewish Leadership Council to shadow cabinet members called on them to address antisemitism and clarify their positions, stating: “The Labour party currently attracts antisemites and repels Jews.

“This is a sickening situation for you and for us. But it is the undeniable truth.”

Louise Ellman, the Labour MP for Liverpool Riverside, backed the call, tweeting: “It is time Jeremy Corbyn acted on Labour’s antisemitism crisis.”

The Board of Deputies of British Jews has also written to the shadow cabinet outlining action they want taken to combat the issue.

The letter states: “We urge you to take this opportunity to turn the tide. The alternative is to leave Labour permanently damaged as an institutionally racist party. Our community and our country will not forgive any further failure.”

Meanwhile, Labour has been accused by the Board of Deputies of British Jews of “letting off” people accused of antisemitism without sanction after a leaked draft of the party’s disciplinary process showed that some members can avoid punishment in serious cases where they have apologised and agreed to undergo education.

The Board of Deputies said Labour’s disciplinary processes remain insufficient and appeared too permissive towards antisemites, following the emergence of a draft of the party’s “antisemitism decision-making matrix” from March.

Labour said all cases were reviewed based on the available evidence. A party spokeswoman said: “For example, an individual’s refusal to recognise their wrongdoing is likely to result in a more severe sanction.

“The Labour party is taking decisive action against antisemitism, swiftly suspending and imposing robust sanctions on individuals.

“Since Jennie Formby became general secretary, the number of staff dedicated to dealing with complaints and investigations has been doubled and the rate at which cases are dealt with has increased more than fourfold.”





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