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Labour MP quits party and launches blistering attack on Jeremy Corbyn

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Barrow and Furness MP John Woodcock has quit the Labour Party to sit as an Independent MP in the House of Commons.

In his resignation letter, Woodcock attacked Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, saying he would pose a clear risk to the UKs security if he became prime minister.

Woodcock was suspended from the party in April over allegations that he sent inappropriate text messages to a female former aide. He has denied the claim, which is being investigated by the party.

Labour MP quits party and launches blistering attack on Jeremy Corbyn

Barrow and Furness MP John Woodcock has quit the Labour Party to sit as an Independent MP (Picture: PA)

Woodcock also accused some Labour members of being taken over by the hard left and said the party tolerated anti-Semitism in his resignation letter.

He accused Labour of failing to appoint an independent investigator to rule on his disciplinary case and suggested the process was being manipulated for factional purposes.

Mandatory Credit: Photo by James Gourley/REX/Shutterstock (9444724bd) People awaiting trains at Euston Station Seasonal Weather, London, UK - 28 Feb 2018People told to avoid London while Euston station is shut for three weekends

A long-time critic of Corbyn, Woodcock said the current Labour Party was not a credible alternative government.

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Woodcock has represented the Cumbrian seat since 2010, winning it with a 209 majority last year.

He said: I was elected to put the people of Barrow and Furness first, no matter how difficult or controversial.

I have promised to fight for local jobs, promote a credible alternative government, protect the shipyard and ensure the safety of my constituents through strong defence and national security.

I now believe more strongly than ever that you have made the Labour party unfit to deliver those objectives and would pose a clear risk to UK national security as prime minister.

The party for which I have campaigned since I was a boy is no longer the broad church it has always historically been.

He added: Anti-Semitism is being tolerated and Labour has been taken over at nearly every level by the hard left, far beyond the dominance they achieved at the height of 1980s militancy.

epa06838250 Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn attends a demonstration outside Kings Cross Station, Central London, Britain, 25 June 2018. The demonstration, which called for further nationalization of British railways, coincided with the launch of a new state-run franchise, London and North Eastern Railway (LNER) after the collapse of Virgin Trains East Coast. EPA/WILL OLIVER

Woodcock criticised Jeremy Corbyn, called the part unfit to run against the Government and siad anti-Semitism is being tolerated (Picture: EPA)

A Labour spokesperson said: Jeremy [Corbyn] thanks John for his service to the Labour party.

The claim that the disciplinary process that led to Woodcock being suspended is rigged against him is entirely false, Labour sources told the Guardian.

Peter Lee who was sacked for taking a tea break. See National News story NNRAIL; A long-serving railway signalman was sacked for taking a break during the evening rush hour. Peter Lee, who has worked for Network Rail for 44 years, down tools at Arundel station in West Sussex in January. He insisted he was entitled to a 20 minute break as his shift was over six hours. But the 60-year-old who said he ?has given everything? to the company was dismissed for gross misconduct in May for ?exercising his rights? as an employee.Signalman sacked for taking 20-minute break during rush hour

They claim there is no political involvement in internal disciplinary cases, that cases going to the partys sexual harassment panel are anonymised and that the national constitutional committee, which deals with disciplinary matters, is separate from Labours national executive committee.

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Corbyn was again criticised by members of his own party yesterday after Labour produced a new code of conduct on tackling anti-Semitism.

Senior MP Dame Margaret Hodge reportedly called the leader a fucking anti-Semite during an angry tirade over the document in the House of Commons.

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