Below is the text of the comments made by Chris Williamson, the former Labour MP for Derby North, on Twitter on 25 June 2020.
So RBL [Rebecca Long-Bailey] is sacked by Sir Starmer for sharing Maxine Peake’s interview with the Independent!
The abject failure of ANY MP to join me in condemning the witch-hunt years ago has led directly to this. And it’s only going to get worse.
Pastor Niemöller’s words come to mind.
Below is the text of the comments made by Zarah Sultana, the Labour MP for Coventry South, on Twitter on 26 June 2020.
From her excellent work on the Green Industrial Revolution to holding the Government to account on its shambolic plans for reopening schools, I’m disappointed that Rebecca Long-Bailey has been removed from her Shadow Cabinet role.
Solidarity Rebecca Long-Bailey.
Below is the text of the comments made by Mick Whitley, the Labour MP for Birkenhead, on Twitter on 26 June 2020.
I’m proud to call Rebecca Long-Bailey a friend and colleague.
She was an incredible Education Secretary, working alongside the unions to oppose the Government’s reckless plans for school reopenings.
Her departure from the frontbench is regrettable and I hope to see her reinstated.
Below is the text of the comments made by Kate Osborne, the Labour MP for Jarrow, on Twitter on 26 June 2020.
Solidarity Rebecca Long-Bailey, we stand with you comrade ✊?. To all party members I say, please stay and educate, agitate, organise.
Below is the text of the comments made on Twitter by Laura Pidcock on 26 June 2020.
Solidarity with Rebecca Long-Bailey. And solidarity with every member feeling unsure about their future in the party. A strong and well organised left in the Party has power. I am staying and organising.
Below is the text of the comments made by Twitter by Len McCluskey on 25 June 2020 following the dismissal of Rebecca Long-Bailey.
Sacking Rebecca Long-Bailey is an unnecessary over-reaction to a confected row. Unity is too important to be risked like this.
Below are the comments made by Claudia Webbe, the Labour MP for Leicester East, on 25 June 2020, following the dismissal of Rebecca Long-Bailey.
Dear Keir,
It is the sacking of Robert Jenrick MP that Labour should be calling for.
Below are the comments made by John McDonnell, the Labour MP for Hayes and Harlington, on 25 June 2020.
Throughout discussion of antisemitism it’s always been said criticism of practices of Israeli state is not antisemitic. I don’t believe therefore that this article is or Rebecca Long-Bailey should’ve been sacked. I stand in solidarity with her.
Below is the text of the relevant part of the article posted by Maxine Peake, which was shared by Rebecca Long-Bailey who was then sacked from the Shadow Cabinet on 25 June 2020. The full article is at https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/maxine-peake-interview-labour-corbyn-keir-starmer-black-lives-matter-a9583206.html.
“I don’t know how we escape that cycle that’s indoctrinated into us all,” continues the 45-year-old. “Well, we get rid of it when we get rid of capitalism as far as I’m concerned. That’s what it’s all about. The establishment has got to go. We’ve got to change it.” Born in Bolton to a lorry driver father and care worker mother, Peake is strident and expressive; if religion wasn’t anathema to her, she’d be perfect in the pulpit. “Systemic racism is a global issue,” she adds. “The tactics used by the police in America, kneeling on George Floyd’s neck, that was learnt from seminars with Israeli secret services.”
The Independent added:
A spokesperson for the Israeli police has denied this, stating that “there is no tactic or protocol that calls to put pressure on the neck or airway”.
Below is the text of the statement made on Twitter by Rebecca Long-Bailey, dismissed from the Shadow Cabinet on 25 June 2020.
Today I retweeted an interview that my constituent and stalwart Labour Party supporter Maxine Peake gave to the Independent. Its main thrust was anger with the Conservative Government’s handling of the current emergency and a call for Labour Party unity.
These are sentiments are shared by everyone in our movement and millions of people in our country. I learned that many people were concerned by references to international sharing of training and restraint techniques between police and security forces.
In no way was my retweet an intention to endorse every part of that article.
I wished to acknowledge these concerns and duly issued a clarification of my retweet, with the wording agreed in advance by the Labour Party Leader’s Office, but after posting I was subsequently instructed to take both this agreed clarification and my original retweet down.
I could not do this in good conscience without the issuing of a press statement of clarification. I had asked to discuss these matters with Keir before agreeing what further action to take, but sadly he had already made his decision.
I am proud of the policies we have developed within the party from our Green Industrial Revolution to a National Education Service and I will never stop working for the change our communities need to see.
I am clear that I shall continue to support the Labour Party in Parliament under Keir Starmer’s leadership, to represent the people of Salford and Eccles and work towards a more equal, peaceful and sustainable world.