John Woodcock under pressure from Labour members over Jeremy Corbyn criticism
2 min read
John Woodcock is facing a backlash from Labour members over his criticisms of Jeremy Corbyn.
The secretary of the Barrow and Furness MP's local party, John Clark, has written to Labour HQ looking for "advice" on what to do about him.
The move comes just two weeks after Mr Woodcock confronted Mr Corbyn in the House of Commons over Russia.
PoliticsHome also revealed how the MP had told friends he was considering giving up the Labour whip after becoming increasingly disillusioned with the party leader.
Tensions spilled over during a debate on the Salisbury nerve agent attack, in which Mr Corbyn said he had been a critic of the Kremlin for 20 years.
Mr Woodcock said: "I was not intending to intervene in this, but I cannot actually let that remark go by. I’ve sat here reading his article in the Morning Star after Russia annexed part of Ukraine, where the strongest criticism he makes there is ‘on Ukraine, I would not condone Russian behaviour or expansion, but it is not unprovoked’.
"And then into the usual criticism of the US and Nato and UK policy. It’s just not true."
In an email to Barrow and Furness Labour members, John Clark said: "I have been asked by the Barrow and Furness Executive Committee to let you know that we have written to the Labour party secretary and the National Executive Committee for advice concerning John Woodcock's recent public comments.
"The Constituency Labour Party is currently fully focused on our local elections in May, fighting for our constituents and holding this Tory government to account."
Mr Woodcock said: "It is hard for me to comment as I have not been informed of the nature of the complaint made against me.
"I first heard of this when I received the email sent to all Furness members.
"This is concerning but I want to assure my constituents I will never be distracted from standing up for our community and speaking out when I believe it is in the interests of the country."
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