A top Labour MP today branded it “madness” that members of the Jeremy Corbyn-supporting Momentum group will protest against one of his party’s election candidates.
Chuka Umunna claimed the demonstration amounted to Momentum in his constituency doing the Tories’ “dirty work”.
His outburst came after the protest against Labour London Assembly candidate Florence Eshalomi was raised at a meeting of Lambeth Momentum. Ms Eshalomi would be the first ever Labour London Assembly member of Nigerian descent, but the treasurer of the Momentum group branded her a “Blairite”.
After reports of the protest emerged ex-Labour European election candidate Anne Fairweather said she was “disappointed”.
On Twitter, Streatham MP Mr Umunna then responded: “Agree. It’s madness! Why do the Tories’ dirty work for them? . . . against London’s prospective first Nigerian GLA member!”
Momentum was established to shore up Mr Corbyn’s leadership, but MPs fear it may be used as a vehicle to overrun local parties and de-select them.
