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Frank Field

(257 Posts)
Anniebach Thu 30-Aug-18 16:35:07

Frank Field is resigning the party whip and will serve as an independent MP in protest of the party’s excuses over anti semitism and bullying in the party

After 39 years of being a labour MP

Shame on you Corbyn, shame on you

petra Thu 30-Aug-18 16:41:48

Annie
Terrible news. One of the few decent MPs.

lemongrove Thu 30-Aug-18 16:45:39

I have always liked Frank Field, I think he will do very well as an Independent.Of course, he shouldn't have to be!

Anniebach Thu 30-Aug-18 16:52:04

news.sky.com/story/frank-field-mp-resigns-labour-whip-over-anti-semitism-row-11485776

Anniebach Thu 30-Aug-18 16:53:24

He will stand as an independent labour MP, his letter to Nick Brown is in the above link

varian Thu 30-Aug-18 16:56:00

I used to like FF until he became an extreme brexiteer.

Wasn't he one of those four Labour MPs who supported the government on a recent crucial vote? I think he might have lost the plot.

Anniebach Thu 30-Aug-18 16:58:23

Rubbish, he has his principles and sticks with them, pity the libs had Clegg instead of a man like Frank Field , they would still be a Party not a has been Party

varian Thu 30-Aug-18 17:04:18

Not rubbish. He was one of the four who supported the govt and I heard him say in the HOC that his party should remember most Labour supporters were leavers when the reverse is true.

Anniebach Thu 30-Aug-18 17:08:21

This is not about Brexit, it is about anti semitism and bullying in the Labour Party

varian Thu 30-Aug-18 17:08:26

Having said that I agree with him that the Labour Party has not acted well in regard to anti-semitism within its ranks. This has weakened the official opposition at a time when a strong opposition party has never been more needed.

eazybee Thu 30-Aug-18 17:08:29

I am very sorry to hear that about Frank Field. He is a man of principle and because of those principles he voted to support the government and was consequently threatened with deselection.
I am sure that he will be returned as an Independent, but it will be a great loss to Labour, or to the honourable Labour party that used to exist before Corbyn and his minders destabilised it.

trisher Thu 30-Aug-18 17:09:58

It seems he has jumped before he was pushed, a recent vote in his constituency party having gone against him. I see he has used the anti-semitism debate as an excuse, what a pity, carrying even further the politicisation of an important subject. I would have more respect if he had left the party, he hasn't. As he has been voting against the party more than ever I don't think he will be a loss

Ilovecheese Thu 30-Aug-18 17:10:38

I thought he was o.k too until recently.

Anniebach Thu 30-Aug-18 17:12:30

He was on the list for de selection by the far left who have taken over the party

Anniebach Thu 30-Aug-18 17:15:09

The official reply from the Corbyn Trot Party

Corbyn thanks Frank Field .

Ilovecheese Thu 30-Aug-18 17:20:16

He really can't expect his local party to canvas for him if he doesn't have their confidence.
He will stand as an independent, so if his constituents want him he will be elected.

Opinions differ on whether or not the new direction of the party is "far left" or not.

PECS Thu 30-Aug-18 17:20:17

I think it hurts the grassroot members when their MP votes with the government they are supposed to be opposing.. on such a vital vote too.

Worth saying again that many of the anti-Semitism stories have not been found to have substance. Those that did have been or are being dealt with. They do need to be dealt with where they occur. No support for racism in any form.
However there is an orchestrated campaign ,shockingly using anti Semitism , to discredit the move to more socialist policy within labour that has grown under Corbyn. His support of the Palestinian cause is why those against JC have used anti-Semitism.

Anniebach Thu 30-Aug-18 17:23:32

Corbyn voted against the party whip 428 times

trisher Thu 30-Aug-18 17:27:03

What's that got to do with Frank Field Annie? MPs can vote on certain matters according to their conscience and JC has certainly done that. However FF arguably has been partly responsible for keeping this government in power.

Anniebach Thu 30-Aug-18 17:31:31

And if Corbyn had campaigned during the lead up to the referendum? No he refused to take part in tv debates and even went on holiday.

Anniebach Thu 30-Aug-18 17:33:12

Tom Watson has made a statement praising Frank Field

kittylester Thu 30-Aug-18 17:36:59

I was just going to make that point Annie. He wouldn't pin his colours to the mast. If he had done the outcome of the referendum might have been very different!

Frank Field strikes me as an honourable man and, if he has been partly responsible for keeping this party in government, it is because he has a conscience.

I wonder if any others will follow?

M0nica Thu 30-Aug-18 17:37:33

Frank Field is, and has always been a man of principle, prepared to stand up for his principles, even when it made him unpopular.

Throughout the years he has undertaken considerable research into the plight of those at the bottom of the income and pecking order and stood up for them in all corcumstances.

What a shame this cannot be said about other senior people in the Labour party.

nigglynellie Thu 30-Aug-18 17:44:31

So it's ok for JC to vote against his party according to his conscience umpteen times, but not for Frank Field?!! How hypocritical is that?!! I've always had a lot of time and admiration for this very principled man and wish him well. Tbh I'm surprised he hasn't resigned the whip before now. annie, wasn't he one of the Labour MP's who originally supported JC for the leadership? I could have got that wrong, but if so, since then he must have kicked himself black and blue!!) 'The road to hell etc etc'!!!

Anniebach Thu 30-Aug-18 17:45:35

Tom Watson has said - this is a serious loss to the Labour Party.

I agree with Tom but it will be welcomed by the Corbyn -Trot Party