‘Tories are the enemy’ MP Laura Pidcock promoted to shadow frontbench by Jeremy Corbyn
2 min read
Laura Pidcock, the Corbynite MP who declared she had “no intention of being friends” with any Tory MP, has been appointed Shadow Minister for Labour.
Jeremy Corbyn made 13 appointments to his frontbench team last night, also including Jack Dromey as Shadow Minister for Pensions, Clive Lewis as Shadow Minister for the Treasury and Laura Smith as Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office.
In August last year, Ms Pidcock told left-wing site Skwawkbox that she had a “visceral” dislike of Conservatives and was “disgusted at the way they’re running this country”.
Asked how she views rival MPs, Ms Pidcock said: “The idea that they’re not the enemy is simply delusional when you see the effect they have on people – a nation where lots of people live in a constant state of fear whether they even have enough to eat.”
She also used her maiden speech to criticise the “intimidating” and “archaic” atmosphere of Parliament.
Brandon Lewis, the new Conservative chairman, attacked the appointment, claiming: “This reshuffle shows yet again that Labour will not just fail to confront abusive behaviour, but they will reward it.
“Clive Lewis and Laura Pidcock represent a nasty, regressive brand of politics which could not be further from Jeremy Corbyn’s laughable claims to represent a ‘kinder, gentler’ politics.
“It’s time for Labour MPs to speak up and condemn these appointments to ensure that all parties are united in working to stamp out abusive behaviour in public life.”
Clive Lewis apologised after telling someone to get ‘on your knees bitch’ at a Momentum conference.
Following the furore surrounding his remarks, Lewis tweeted: ‘I apologise unreservedly for the language I used at an event in Brighton last month. It was offensive and unacceptable. To all my friends,colleagues, constituents,comrades & passers-by, thankyou so much for your kind words and support. Much love & gratitude xx’
He was also cleared of sexual harassment at the same event by the Labour Party following an internal investigation in December last year.
PoliticsHome Newsletters
PoliticsHome provides the most comprehensive coverage of UK politics anywhere on the web, offering high quality original reporting and analysis: Subscribe
