Motion with amendment passed by Newbury Constituency Labour party at our All Members Meeting, July 21st 2019.

“We have recently heard about the shameful ‘advert’ placed, unsurprisingly, in The Guardian by 60 Labour peers criticising Jeremy Corbyn for the “toxic culture you have allowed to divide our movement”, claiming it has prompted the resignation of “thousands” of members. It claims that the Party is no longer a safe place for its members and supporters.

It would seem to many Labour members that the toxic culture, if there is one, has been both instigated and promoted by some of those very people who are now attributing blame for it at Jeremy Corbyn’s door. Since his election as leader of the Labour Party, there has been a sustained and relentless campaign to undermine both his person and his ideas which appear to be far too ‘socialist’ in tone for many of the previous representatives of the leadership and governments. No opportunity has been missed to criticise and accuse, ignoring the fact that not only was Corbyn elected on the basis of members’ support and votes but his leadership meant that not only many lapsed members of the Labour Party were encouraged to re-join but also that many young people suddenly saw a Party that could represent their aspirations and ideas as never before.

As a consequence, this CLP wishes to express and note its continuing support for Jeremy Corbyn and its faith in his policies and ideals. While we recognise that there are some aspects of anti-semitism within a minority of the party, we reject entirely the notion that Jeremy Corbyn and the Labour Party is anti-Semitic and racist and that the Party is no longer a safe place for its members and supporters. This CLP believes that solidarity with Jeremy Corbyn, his shadow cabinet and the Manifesto is the only way to bring this Party back together and it calls on those members and peers who are continuing to undermine and denigrate the leadership to cease their campaign and to accept that the vast majority of Labour members will continue to defend and support it, despite their efforts to the contrary.”

To be sent to:

Jeremy Corbyn

John McDonnell

The Labour Party NEC

The PLP