Labour rising star refuses to take Corbyn loyalty vow: Angela Rayner calls for Momentum to end its purge of moderate MPs and councillors
- Angela Rayner said she will refuse to sign a pledge of loyalty to Jeremy Corbyn
- The shadow education secretary is seen as a potential future party leader
- She called on the hard-Left to end purge of moderate MPs and local councillors
Labour's shadow education secretary Angela Rayner has said she will refuse to sign a pledge of loyalty to Jeremy Corbyn as demanded by Momentum.
The rising star, who is seen as a potential future party leader, called on the hard-Left faction to end its purge of moderate MPs and local councillors.
Momentum is asking potential Labour parliamentary candidates to swear allegiance to Mr Corbyn if they want their backing.
Labour's shadow education secretary Angela Rayner has said she will refuse to sign a pledge of loyalty to Jeremy Corbyn as demanded by Momentum
The 13-point contract, which has been branded ‘Stalinist’ by critics, asks would-be Labour MPs to back the Labour leader’s objectives and party manifesto to win the group’s support.
Mrs Rayner said she has no intention of signing as she warned that factionalism within the party would put it further from government.
She told The Times: ‘I’m not Momentum. I’m not [centre-right group] Progress. I’m not trade union. I’m a Labour MP to represent all of my constituents.
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‘Any factionalism in the Labour Party will damage us and remove us from getting near power, which ultimately damages the people that need our support.
‘Trying to deselect and get rid of people’s voices is not a way forward. We have disagreements. There’s not been a Labour leader with whom I agree on everything... but [Corbyn] has an absolute right to lead our party and our MPs have an absolute right to be there and to have their voices heard and so do our councillors.’
Mrs Rayner last month hit the headlines after she became a grandmother at 37.
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