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| Tom Watson says he stood down as an MP over Labour 'brutality' | Tom Watson says he stood down as an MP over Labour 'brutality' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Former deputy leader of the Labour Party Tom Watson has said he stood down as an MP because of "brutality and hostility" within his party. | Former deputy leader of the Labour Party Tom Watson has said he stood down as an MP because of "brutality and hostility" within his party. |
| The former West Bromwich East MP, who stood down last month, told the Guardian criticism from factions and on social media became a "heavy load". | The former West Bromwich East MP, who stood down last month, told the Guardian criticism from factions and on social media became a "heavy load". |
| Mr Watson also claimed party officials concealed a death threat towards him. | Mr Watson also claimed party officials concealed a death threat towards him. |
| The 52-year-old, who has lost eight stone in weight, is retraining as a gym instructor. | The 52-year-old, who has lost eight stone in weight, is retraining as a gym instructor. |
| Speaking to the Guardian's Weekend magazine in the wake of Labour's election defeat on 12 December, Mr Watson said of his decision to stand down: "The point is that the brutality and hostility is real and it's day to day. | Speaking to the Guardian's Weekend magazine in the wake of Labour's election defeat on 12 December, Mr Watson said of his decision to stand down: "The point is that the brutality and hostility is real and it's day to day. |
| "So I just thought: now's the time to take a leap, do something different. You've had a good innings. You've done good stuff. Go now." | "So I just thought: now's the time to take a leap, do something different. You've had a good innings. You've done good stuff. Go now." |
| The Guardian said Mr Watson had praised outgoing leader Jeremy Corbyn personally but had criticised his leadership. | |
| He also admitted voting for rival Owen Smith during the party's 2016 leadership election, which followed dozens of resignations from the shadow cabinet and a motion of no confidence in Mr Corbyn that was passed by 172 to 40 Labour MPs. | |
| "I thought, as soon as the leader loses the confidence of the parliamentary party it's almost impossible to see how you can form a government. | "I thought, as soon as the leader loses the confidence of the parliamentary party it's almost impossible to see how you can form a government. |
| "I thought Jeremy should have resigned, and he nearly did." | "I thought Jeremy should have resigned, and he nearly did." |
| The party is now preparing for a fresh leadership race in the wake of the recent election result. | The party is now preparing for a fresh leadership race in the wake of the recent election result. |
| The Conservatives won an 80 seat majority after Labour's "red wall" across the Midlands and the north of England crumblTom Watson stood down over Labour 'brutality'ed. | |
| Those seats included Mr Watson's former constituency, West Bromwich East, which was gained by the Tories for the first time with a majority of 1,593. | Those seats included Mr Watson's former constituency, West Bromwich East, which was gained by the Tories for the first time with a majority of 1,593. |
| In his first sit-down interview since the result, Mr Watson also asked questions of Labour's campaign strategy. | In his first sit-down interview since the result, Mr Watson also asked questions of Labour's campaign strategy. |
| "There were announcements everywhere, but none of them got through because there were so many," he said. | "There were announcements everywhere, but none of them got through because there were so many," he said. |
| "You knew what Boris Johnson's was: get Brexit done. What was the Labour strapline?" | "You knew what Boris Johnson's was: get Brexit done. What was the Labour strapline?" |
| Former Labour MP Andy Burnham, who is now Greater Manchester Mayor, said he recognised Mr Watson's description of the party, adding: "cannot carry on as we are". | Former Labour MP Andy Burnham, who is now Greater Manchester Mayor, said he recognised Mr Watson's description of the party, adding: "cannot carry on as we are". |
| "The tone of public discourse, generally but also internally, has become poisonous at times and I think Tom was very much bearing the brunt of that," he told Radio 4's Today programme. | "The tone of public discourse, generally but also internally, has become poisonous at times and I think Tom was very much bearing the brunt of that," he told Radio 4's Today programme. |
| And Mr Burnham - who finished runner-up to Mr Corbyn in the 2015 Labour leadership contest - called on candidates bidding to replace Mr Corbyn as party leader to help make Labour "a broad church where we respect each other... as soon as possible." | And Mr Burnham - who finished runner-up to Mr Corbyn in the 2015 Labour leadership contest - called on candidates bidding to replace Mr Corbyn as party leader to help make Labour "a broad church where we respect each other... as soon as possible." |