‘I am angry’ - South Shields MP to defy Keir Starmer over Privileges Committee motion
The South Shields MP is set to defy the Labour Whip over a motion to refer Keir Starmer to the Privileges Committee.
Emma Lewell MP has spoken in the House of Commons of her “anger” over being ordered by the Labour Party to vote down a motion to refer the Prime Minister to the Privileges Committee.
Her comments were made during a debate on Tuesday afternoon (April 28) into whether Sir Keir Starmer misled the House over the appointment of Lord Peter Mandelson as the US ambassador.
In response to the motion, which was tabled by the Conservatives, Labour has issued a three-line whip to order their MPs to vote against the motion.
The three-line whip is the strictest requirement to vote a certain way and MPs could face serious consequences if they defy the wishes of their party.
‘I am angry’
The South Shields MP has branded the three-line whip as “wrong” and stated that the government was “out of touch” with the public mood.
Ms Lewell said: “Like the public, I feel let down, disappointed and I am angry.
“Peter Mandelson should never have been appointed, this was a fundamental failure of judgement.
“I feel that the way that today’s vote has been handled by the Government smacks once again of being out of touch and disconnected from the public mood.
“The fact that MPs like me are being whipped into voting against this motion is in my view wrong.
“It has played into the terrible narrative that there is something to hide and good, decent, colleagues will be accused of being complicate in a cover up.”
Intensifying abuse and ongoing threats
During her speech in the Commons, Ms Lewell also revealed that she and her staff are facing increased abuse over the government’s handling of the Peter Mandelson scandal.
She added: “A number of weeks ago at a private meeting with the Prime Minister, I spoke about how after a career of working closely with victims of child sexual abuse that I cannot even begin to express how much it hurts me when people are screaming at me in the street that I am a member of the ‘Paedo Protectors Party’.
“Prior to this scandal, people criticised the government’s policies and at times, lack of political narrative.
“But to me, they are now questioning the government’s moral compass.
“My comments were leaked and my words were used later by the Leader of the Opposition - recent weeks have seen such abuse intensify and ongoing threats to mine and my staff’s safety continue.”
Calling on the Prime Minister
Ms Lewell confirmed that she won’t be voting against the motion and has called on the Prime Minister to refer himself to the Privileges Committee.
She added: “This Prime Minister is very careful with his words and does have respect for the office he holds.
“He does want to change this country for the better and he truly believes in public service - something which in recent years may have been sorely lacking from previous Prime Ministers.
“So I can’t understand why the Prime Minister doesn’t refer himself to the committee with a clear statement that he is doing so to clear his name.
“One quick session of the committee could surely see this matter concluded.”