Frank Field rules out by-election and tees up 'major legal dispute' with Labour
3 min read
Frank Field has ruled out standing for a by-election in Birkenhead – and said he is braced for a “major legal dispute” with Labour over his ongoing membership of the party.
The veteran MP dramatically resigned the Labour whip last week with a blast at Jeremy Corbyn, who he said risked turning the party into a “force for anti-Semitism” in British politics.
But party sources pointed out that Mr Field, who has vowed to stand as an independent Labour MP, would have to terminate his membership of the party within two weeks of resigning the whip.
Meanwhile, some in the party have called on him to stand for re-election on his own terms in Birkenhead, a move Mr Field suggested he was considering.
However, in a fresh statement, Mr Field – who has faced a vote of no confidence from his local party over his support for a key government Brexit bill – said residents wanted him to “simply get on with the job” and ruled out standing against a Labour candidate.
“A key component of our democracy is that MPs are accountable to their electorate, while of course taking into account the views of their local party membership,” he said.
“Those people that I work with most closely in Birkenhead stress that, in the 2017 general election, I received the biggest majority I have ever had in Birkenhead, standing clearly on a national and local manifesto.
“All of these people, and practically all of the local residents who have contacted me in recent days, have stressed that I should simply get on with the job of representing Birkenhead.
“Therefore, I will not be calling a by-election.”
Mr Field vowed to continue “trying to serve Birkenhead to the best of my ability”, and said he looked forward to “contributing further to the development of the Labour Party’s programme of social and economic reform”.
However, he confirmed plans – first revealed by PoliticsHome – to mount a legal battle with party bosses over any move to expel him from Labour.
The veteran MP said: “Meanwhile, I now have what may become a major legal dispute with the Labour Party over my continuing membership of the Party.
“I shall fight any attempt at expelling me in every way I can and, if need be, in the courts. This interpretation of Labour’s rule book could last a long time.”
CORBYN: WE'VE ALWAYS GOT ALONG PERSONALLY
Both Jeremy Corbyn and Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell have struck a conciliatory tone when questioned about Mr Field’s exit in recent days, although the Labour leader today questioned the MP’s reasons for quitting.
Mr Corbyn told reporters this morning: “Frank has been a Labour MP for a very long time, even longer than I have."
"I’ve known him for a very long time. I’ve worked with him in the past on social security and other issues. Sometimes we haven’t agreed but we have always got along personally.
"I’m sorry he’s resigned and I thank him for all the work that he’s done as an MP and for the party, but I don’t see why he had to resign."
Mr McDonnell meanwhile praised the Birkenhead MP as an “old mate”, and said he hoped he could be brought “back into the fold”.
The frontbencher told the BBC: “I know he's resigned and I spoke to him yesterday. And he's been quite angry and concerned about a number of things. I think we can address all those things that he's concerned about.
“I think he can continue to make a valuable contribution as a Labour Party member. And I want him to come back into the fold.
“But there's issues that need to be resolved and we can do that, I think, constructively and amicably. And I think his local constituency want this as well."
The Labour Party has been approached for comment.
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