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Angela Eagle accuses Jeremy Corbyn of allowing abuse to flourish Angela Eagle accuses Jeremy Corbyn of allowing abuse to flourish
(about 1 month later)
Labour MP Angela Eagle has accused party leader Jeremy Corbyn of “stirring” things after she cancelled constituency surgeries because of abuse. The former Labour leadership contender said she had been advised by police not to hold the public sessions in her Wallasey constituency. Merseyside police said the decision to cancel surgeries was a matter for the MP and her staff.Labour MP Angela Eagle has accused party leader Jeremy Corbyn of “stirring” things after she cancelled constituency surgeries because of abuse. The former Labour leadership contender said she had been advised by police not to hold the public sessions in her Wallasey constituency. Merseyside police said the decision to cancel surgeries was a matter for the MP and her staff.
Related: Angela Eagle stops walk-in surgeries amid security concerns
Eagle said a “permissive” environment had been allowed to develop whereby MPs opposed to Corbyn faced abuse. She told the Daily Telegraph: “I think he has contributed to this. It’s all very well to condemn it, but there’s a permissive environment. You can make any number of ritual condemnations as you like but you have got to be judged by your actions, not just words.Eagle said a “permissive” environment had been allowed to develop whereby MPs opposed to Corbyn faced abuse. She told the Daily Telegraph: “I think he has contributed to this. It’s all very well to condemn it, but there’s a permissive environment. You can make any number of ritual condemnations as you like but you have got to be judged by your actions, not just words.
“He has been stirring. He needs to be held to account. We have contacted the police and they have said we should cancel surgeries for safety reasons. I’m afraid for my staff. It’s them that have been up there, not me. It’s them that have had to field the calls.”“He has been stirring. He needs to be held to account. We have contacted the police and they have said we should cancel surgeries for safety reasons. I’m afraid for my staff. It’s them that have been up there, not me. It’s them that have had to field the calls.”
Earlier, Eagle told the Liverpool Echo: “Because we have been getting so much abuse direct to the office and the advice surgeries are normally done in public, [the police] have sent me an email advising me to cancel them.” She said the police “basically think it might not be safe. They do not want them to go ahead at all.Earlier, Eagle told the Liverpool Echo: “Because we have been getting so much abuse direct to the office and the advice surgeries are normally done in public, [the police] have sent me an email advising me to cancel them.” She said the police “basically think it might not be safe. They do not want them to go ahead at all.
“I think it’s also in the aftermath of what happened to Jo Cox. I am going to take their advice this time, but people can still contact my office by phone and email. They are talking to me about future arrangements in terms of security.“I think it’s also in the aftermath of what happened to Jo Cox. I am going to take their advice this time, but people can still contact my office by phone and email. They are talking to me about future arrangements in terms of security.
“It’s with great reluctance that I’m doing this, but the safety of my staff is paramount.”“It’s with great reluctance that I’m doing this, but the safety of my staff is paramount.”
DCI Sarah Kenwright of Merseyside police said: “We have given Ms Eagle advice about her surgeries, at her request, but the decision to cancel surgeries is not a police matter and would lie entirely with them.”DCI Sarah Kenwright of Merseyside police said: “We have given Ms Eagle advice about her surgeries, at her request, but the decision to cancel surgeries is not a police matter and would lie entirely with them.”
Eagle’s constituency Labour party has already been suspended amid allegations of bullying and abuse. The former shadow business secretary has faced unrest among activists in the Wallasey constituency Labour party since she indicated that she might challenge Corbyn.Eagle’s constituency Labour party has already been suspended amid allegations of bullying and abuse. The former shadow business secretary has faced unrest among activists in the Wallasey constituency Labour party since she indicated that she might challenge Corbyn.
A brick was thrown through a window of the building where the party’s office is based last week after she announced that she intended to run. She has since dropped out of the race and given her backing to Owen Smith.A brick was thrown through a window of the building where the party’s office is based last week after she announced that she intended to run. She has since dropped out of the race and given her backing to Owen Smith.