Owen Smith: I learned I had been sacked from the Shadow Cabinet in a text from a journalist
2 min read
Owen Smith found out he had been sacked from the Shadow Cabinet in a text from a journalist, it has been revealed.
Mr Smith was replaced as Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary last week after calling for a second EU referendum in an article for the Guardian.
But the Pontypridd MP yesterday accused Jeremy Corbyn’s team of leaking his removal to the press before informing him.
In an interview with comedian Matt Forde for the Political Party podcast, he said: “It was five to six on Friday of last week and I got a text from a political editor of a major newspaper in this country saying ‘so did you jump or were you pushed?’.
“I answered by saying ‘as far as I’m aware I’ve done neither’. I then rang them up and found out what they’d been told and they’d been rung by somebody in Jeremy’s team to say that I’d been sacked and that Tony Lloyd was replacing me.”
Mr Smith said he then called Mr Corbyn to be told the Labour leader "was very upset with what I’d said in the Guardian and wanted me to step down from the Shadow Cabinet”.
He added: “I then did tell him that I thought it was a bit of a raw deal to tell the newspapers before he told me and he apologised for that… I’m not sure he knew.”
In the Guardian article, Mr Smith called on Labour to offer a second EU vote, adding that the party must "do more than just back a soft Brexit or guarantee a soft border in Ireland".
He also said the UK should seek to retain membership of both the customs union and single market - a position which has been ruled out by the Labour leadership.
Speaking last week, Mr Corbyn welcomed Rochdale MP Tony Lloyd's appointment to the role, saying in a statement: "Tony is a highly experienced former government minister who is committed to ensuring that peace in Northern Ireland is maintained and helping to steer the devolution deal back on track.”
NORTHERN IRELAND
Elsewhere in yesterday's interview, Mr Smith suggested that the Labour leader had become disengaged from Northern Irish politics and said they had “barely discussed” it during his time in the brief.
Asked about Mr Corbyn’s historic links to the Irish Republican movement, he replied: “In fairness to Jeremy he’s not really engaged in Northern Ireland policy.
“Given his history and given the perception of his support for one side of the community then that’s probably been a smart move by him.
“Bluntly, I’ve barely discussed Northern Ireland policy with Jeremy in past 10 months.”
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