Angela Eagle calls on Jeremy Corbyn to ‘get control’ of supporters

Labour leadership challenger Angela Eagle has called on Jeremy Corbyn to “get control” of his supporters after a brick was thrown through the window of her constituency party office.

Ms Eagle said the Labour leader needed to put a stop to the “bullying” as she was forced to rearrange a campaign event after the manager of the hotel in Luton where she was supposed to be speaking was threatened.

Mr Corbyn issued a statement calling for calm, urging party members to treat each other with “respect and dignity” insisting that there was no place for violence in politics.

However, Ms Eagle, who announced on Monday that she was launching a leadership bid, said Mr Corbyn needed to do more to stop the acts of violence and abuse.

“They are being done in his name and he needs to get control of the people who are supporting him and makes certain that this behaviour stops and stops now,” she told the BBC. “It is bullying, it has absolutely no place in politics in the UK and it needs to end.”

Earlier, Merseyside police confirmed they were investigating a complaint of criminal damage after a brick was thrown through the window of the office of the Wallasey Constituency Labour Party (CLP), where Ms Eagle is MP.

Homophobic emails

Paul Stuart, co-vice chairman of the CLP said it was not an isolated incident and that Ms Eagle had been on the receiving end of a series of “really vile” homophobic emails and telephone calls. He said that the MP’s primary concern now was for her staff and her constituents.

“Angela has been referred to as a dyke, a traitor, a Tory, [and told] that she should resign,” he said.

“Angela is disgusted with this and the behaviour that has escalated within the party locally. Angela is a tough woman and her concern will not be about herself.”

Merseyside police and crime commissioner Jane Kennedy said members of the “hard left” were creating a climate which encouraged such attacks and said the building – which also houses other businesses – would be given “special attention” by police.

Concerns

“What concerns me is there are those on the hard left creating a climate by their words that some people think gives them the green light to do these kind of things,” she said.

Mrs Kennedy, a former Labour MP, said Ms Eagle would not be deterred in her leadership challenge.

“This is going to make her more determined to carry forward the debate, to make her case and then let the Labour Party decide and then, God willing, let the country decide,” she said.

In a statement, Mr Corbyn said the incident was “extremely concerning” and that he had also been subjected to threats.

“As someone who has also received death threats this week and previously, I am calling on all Labour Party members and supporters to act with calm and treat each other with respect and dignity, even where there is disagreement,” he said.

“I utterly condemn any violence or threats, which undermine the democracy within our party and have no place in our politics.” – (PA)