Andy McDonald quits Labour shadow cabinet with attack on Starmer
A Corbynite Labour MP has today resigned from the shadow cabinet and launched an attack on leader Sir Keir Starmer.
Middlesbrough MP Andy McDonald resigned during the third day of the Labour party conference in Brighton, claiming that he refused orders from Starmer to argue against a £15 minimum wage at an event.
In a letter to Starmer, the left-winger claimed “our movement is more divided than ever and the pledges that you made to the membership are not being honoured”.
Starmer yesterday backtracked on a pledge he made during the leadership contest to nationalise the big six energy firms – a key Corbyn-era policy.
He also passed reforms during party conference yesterday that will make it harder for a left-wing MP to become Labour leader again.
McDonald told Starmer: “I joined your front bench team on the basis of the pledges that you made in the leadership campaign to bring about unity within the party and maintain our commitment to socialist policies.”
Starmer thanked McDonald “for his service”, while sources in the leader’s office suggested they were not unhappy about the decision as Labour tries to draw a line under the Corbyn era.
Starmer said: “Labour’s comprehensive New Deal for Working People shows the scale of our ambition and where our priorities lie. My focus and that of the whole party is on winning the next general election.”