Ian Austin
| Ian Austin link Twitter | |
|---|---|
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| Born | 6 March 1965 |
UK MP | |
Ian Austin is the former Member of Parliament for Dudley North who resigned from the Labour Party on 22 February 2019.[1]
In November 2019, Austin announced he was standing down at the UK/2019 General Election and encouraged Labour voters to support Tory PM Boris Johnson.[2]
Reactions
Craig Murray
On 8 November 2019, Craig Murray tweeted:
- "Yet BBC still claim that massive airtime given this Tory trade envoy to say 'vote Johnson' does not count against the Conservatives in calculating election coverage balance."[4]
Chris Williamson MP
Chris Williamson MP spoke from personal experience when he commented on Austin’s decision to quit the Labour Party:
- "He is certainly no loss. His frequent ill-tempered outbursts were an embarrassment to the Labour Party.
- "His disdain for grassroots members was palpable as was his contempt for Labour’s progressive policy programme that secured the party’s biggest increase in vote share since 1945.
- "The truth is he fought the last election under false pretences, using the Labour brand to get re-elected.
- "Another positive thing about his departure is that Labour Party members in Dudley North can now select a candidate who will work with them to fight for Dudley, rather than fighting against them.
- "For Austin to salvage any shred of credibility he must resign as an MP and fight a by-election in his Dudley North constituency, but in view of his obvious contempt for democracy over the last three and a half years I think he’s unlikely to do so."[5]
References
- ↑ "Labour MP Ian Austin quits party: I can't ask people to make Corbyn PM"
- ↑ "General Election 2019: Voters should back Johnson - ex Labour MP"
- ↑ "Tories paying to push anti-Corbyn interview with ex-Labour MP Ian Austin to voters"
- ↑ "Craig Murray criticises BBC bias towards Tories"
- ↑ "Williamson on Austin: 'certainly no loss and has contempt for democracy'”