Voice of London

Mixed emotions pour out from members of the Labour party and the public as Mr. Corbyn is reinstated after a 19 day suspension. 

Jeremy Corbyn was suspended due to a statement he made concerning the alleged anti-Semitic abuse at the hands of the labour party. According to the Equalities and Human Rights Commission, the party had broken the law and were “insufficient” in dealing with anti-Semitism.

Despite the ex-Labour leader’s reinstation, the current leader Sir Keir Starmer has promised that Mr. Corbyn will not have the party’s whip restored. Therefore, the politician will sit as an independent MP in the House of Commons rather than as a Labour MP. 

Politicians have taken to Twitter to share their fury at this decision. Richard Burgon, the Labour MP for East Leeds tweeted “Jeremy Corbyn has rightly been reinstated to the Labour Party. That decision must be respected & implemented across the Labour Party.”

Zahra Sultana, MP for Coventry tweeted “Jeremy Corbyn is a Labour Member of Parliament. He absolutely should have the whip immediately restored.” She followed her statement by claiming that the decision made by Mr Starmer would only create further division which would ultimately aid the Conservatives. 

One Twitter user even pointed out that Mr Corbyn had actually assisted in stopping the closure of a Jewish cemetery that fellow Labour MP, Margaret Hodge tried to shut down. 

Another Twitter user pointed out that in an interview with Alistair Campbell, former speaker of the House of Commons John Bercow, who also happens to be Jewish, said concerning Corbyn “I’ve known Jeremy Corbyn for years. He hasn’t got an anti-Semitic bone in his body”. 

Despite Mr Corbyn’s support, it appears fellow Labour MP’s are not singing from the same hymn sheet. Neil Coyle, MP for Bermondsey and Old Southwark sent out a tweet saying “ The only option until Keir’s 1st priority is delivered: to rebuild trust in Labour in the Jewish community”. 

Meanwhile, others stood in solidarity with Sir Keir’s decision. Jess Phillips, Labour MP for Birmingham Yardley simply retweeted a tweet in which Mr Starmer said that it is his mission to “root out antisemitism from the labour party”. The current Labour leader then followed this up by tweeting “I know that I will judged on my actions, not my words.” 

As well as Phillips, the Jewish Labour movement agreed with Keir Starmer as their page retweeted a tweet in which the current Labour leader said “I have taken the decision not to restore the whip to Jeremy Corbyn.” 

Members of the public were also very vocal about Mr Starmers decision. 

One Twitter user wrote “Sir Keir Starmer has decided to not restore the Labour whip to Jeremy Corbyn because he *checks notes* broke absolutely no rules.” The same user then went on to say “Sir Keir Starmer is a Tory and he has just destroyed his own political career.”

Another Twitter user jokingly said “Sometimes I think that Jeremy Corbyn should just quit and live his best life. Go on holiday king, tend to your allotment, make more jam..” 

Television presenter Rachel Riley did an interview with Talk Radio in which she claimed that Corbyn’s readmission made her “angry, disappointed and confused”. 

Words : Salimotu Shobowale | Subbed : Chloe Rose