Scottish Labour members accuse Murray of providing a “gift” to the SNP and Tories
IAN MURRAY MP has been caught up in a storm of protest by fellow Scottish Labour members following his resignation from his position as shadow Scottish secretary in protest at Jeremy Corbyn’s party leadership.
The Edinburgh South MP – Labour’s only remaining Scottish MP after a collapse in votes in Scotland at the 2015 General Election – has also been the focus of anger by from some party activists after he referred to protestors outside his Edinburgh office concerned over attempts to eject Corbyn as “dogs”.
An open letter from 80 Scottish Labour activists including Elaine Smith, MSP for Central Scotlandm and several councillors, accused Murray of providing a “gift” to the SNP and Conservatives when he helped to destabilise the UK party by resigning with other shadow ministers on Sunday (26 June).
The letter reads: “As Scottish Labour members, we write to express our deep disappointment at your decision to resign from the shadow cabinet live on television.
“Following the referendum result to leave the European Union, now more than ever it is important Scottish Labour, and most importantly Scottish voters, have representation in the Shadow Cabinet to inform Labour's actions in the coming weeks and months.
“Call off the dogs”: Ian Murray MP has called for an end to Samba protests
“We are absolutely astonished that you have chosen this moment to put factional party politics over getting the best outcome for the people of Scotland.
“Your actions are a gift to the Scottish National Party and the Tories, both of whom wish to portray our party as divided and unfit to represent the working class, at a time when the SNP are pushing for independence and the Tories are in crisis.”
The attempt to remove Corbyn from leadership of the UK party on the pretext of his performance during the referendum on EU membership has thrown the Scottish party into confusion.
Scottish party leader Kezia Dugdale criticised the leftist leader for holding on in the face of vote of no confidence from 172 of his own MPs on Tuesday.
Exclusive: Scottish Young Labour call on Kezia Dugdale to back Corbyn against “coup”
However, Scottish Labour deputy leader Alex Rowley criticised attempts to remove Corbyn, arguing they were inappropriate at a time of national crisis.
Meanwhile, a Samba drumming group made up of Murray’s constituents, who held a musical protest outside of Murray’s constituency office in Edinburgh, responded angrily after he told Corbyn to “call off the dogs” by telling his supporters to stop protesting against MPs trying to oust him.
One member of the group, Benjamin Black, said “It just shows how out of touch the leaders of the Labour coup are.
“Only Corbyn recognises the deep anger felt by Brexit voters, and the real reasons – austerity and a politics that offers no alternative.”
The criticisms from Labour members and supporters follow a letter sent to Dugdale demanding she stand by Corbyn.
The full list of Scottish Labour signatories to the letter condemning Murray is as follows:
Elaine Smith, MSP, Central Scotland
Lesley Brennan, councillor, Dundee
Nathan Morrison, councillor, Aberdeen
Brian Murphy, councillor, Highland
Alex Bennett, councillor, Midlothian
Lauren Gilmour, Scotland Rep, Young Labour Committee
Martyn Cook, National Policy Forum CLP Representative
Lyndsay Clelland, Chair of Scottish Young Labour
Michael Muir, Labour Students National committee
Liam Gleeson, Vice-chair Scottish Young Labour
Peter Higgins, Scottish Young Labour committee
Samantha Ritchie, Scottish Young Labour Committee
Laura Dover, Scottish Young Labour committee
Christopher Barbour, Scottish Young Labour Committee
Connor Boyes, Scottish Young Labour Committee
Rhea Wolfson, Scottish Young Labour Committee
Ruaraidh Groat, Scottish Young Labour Committee
Louis King, Scottish Young Labour Committee
Jordan Turner, Scottish Young Labour Lothian Chair
Dexter Govan, Scottish Labour Students committee
Alistair Craig, Scottish Labour Students Committee
John Swinburne, President Edinburgh Local Association EIS, Midlothian South CLP
Linda Clarke, Secretary Unite the Union Greater Glasgow Community Branch
Jim Matheson, Chair Unite Community Glasgow and Renfrew Branch
Nathaniel Blondel, Chair of Glasgow University Labour Club
Vijay Jackson, BAME Officer Edinburgh Labour Students
Thomas Flanagan, Vice-Chair of Stirling University Labour Party
Alex Nisbet, Vice Chair Cunningham North CLP
Sean Duffy, Kelvin CLP Executive Committee
Mike Cowley, Edinburgh North and Leith CLP Executive Committee
Jae Armstrong, Edinburgh Central CLP Executive Committee
John Cork, Youth Officer at Glasgow Southside CLP
Bruce Whitehead, Edinburgh Western CLP
Paul Cumming Edinburgh Central CLP
Eileen Simpson, Edinburgh North and Leith CLP
Simon Macfarline, Maryhill and Springburn CLP
Mo Hitchcock, East Kilbride CLP
Denise Christie, Glasgow Southside CLP
Andrew Hitchcock, East Kilbride CLP
Mark Gallacher, Rutherglen CLP
Liam Thomson, Mid Fife and Glenrothes CLP
Brendan Moohan, Almond Valley CLP
Paul McFarlane, Edinburgh North and Leith CLP
Eddie Cassidy, Renfrewshire South CLP
Kate Condie, Cowdenbeath CLP
Charles Lister, Cowdenbeath CLP
Laura McDonald, Donside CLP
Charles Warwick, Shettlestone CLP
Liam Burns, Glasgow Maryhill & Springburn CLP
Rory Scothorne, Edinburgh Southern CLP
Maggie McGinley, East Kilbride CLP
Martin Wilson, Edinburgh Northern and Leith CLP
Ian Drummond, Edinburgh Eastern CLP
Anna Lee, Stirling CLP
Ewan Gibbs,Glasgow Kelvin CLP
Veronica Bolan, Glasgow East CLP
Matthew Jones, Cathcart CLP
David Byrne, Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk CLP
Kerri Sutherland, Edinburgh Northern and Leith CLP
Alisoun Morton, Edinburgh Southern CLP
Dr Moray Grigor, Edinburgh Southern CLP
Tommy Kane, Almond Valley CLP
Rob Henthorn, Edinburgh Southern CLP
Paul Inglis, Glasgow Kelvin CLP
David Fagan, Airdrie and Shotts CLP
Celia Fitzgerald, Edinburgh Southern CLP
Sean Smith, Eastwood CLP
Debra Ann Allan, Edinburgh North and Leith CLP
Peter Sharma, UNISON Health & Safety
Jim Mackenzie, UNISON shop steward
Fred Morrison, Dunfermline CLP
Ruth Aylett, Edinburgh Southern CLP
Rob Jones, Edinburgh Southern CLP
Matthew Gallagher, Clydebank and Milngavie CLP
Amy Westwell, Edinburgh Northern and Leith CLP
Martin Murray, Falkirk East CLP
Rosemary Murray, Falkirk East CLP
Alan Falconer, Tweeddale and Lauderdale CLP
Sandy Howden, Tweeddale and Lauderdale CLP
Katrina Allan, Glenrothes and Mid Fife CLP
Pictures courtesy of Open Rights Group, Jochen Stahnke
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