Party calls for unity in leadership crisis

The Blackpool North and Cleveleys Constituency Labour Party has sent a resolution to the party’s National Executive Committee following a special meeting attended by nearly 50 members in Cleveleys.

Members are concerned some Labour MPs are ignoring the party’s democratic process by calling for Jeremy Corbyn to step down as leader.

A statement released by the constituency party says: “This constituency expresses deep concern over the apparent disregard shown by some members of the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP), towards democracy in our party.

“We resent the lack of respect shown to the leader.

“We regret their decision to disregard and undermine the membership’s democratic decision which resulted in the election of our party leader Jeremy Corbyn just nine months ago.

“This constituency party believes that at a time when the nation is in crisis, a number of our PLP members have let down our country by failing to deliver stability and vision at a time when it was needed most.”

Chairman of the Blackpool North and Cleveleys Constituency Party Jack Croysdill said members had asked for the special meeting amid concerns about what was happening at national level.

He said: “The situation in the party is of concern to all members and the meeting was called to discuss this.

“We want unity in the party because that is the only way we are going to succeed and get our policies across.

“The Parliamentary Labour Party needs to get behind the leader.

“It is one member, one vote in the Labour party, unlike the Tories who decide their leader without consulting the members.”

Jeremy Corbyn was in Blackpool in May when he addressed members of the Fire Brigades Union at the national conference at the Imperial Hotel in North Shore.