Corbyn Supporters Call On Deputy Leader To Quit With #ResignWatson Hashtag
6 August 2018, 09:59
Supporters of Jeremy Corbyn have used Twitter to call for the resignation of the party's deputy leader after he warned the party faces "eternal shame" over anti-semitism.
Tom Watson called on Mr Corbyn to adopt the full International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of anti-semitism, a move resisted by the party's national executive, in an interview with the Observer.
The deputy leader also said that Labour faces "eternal shame" over anti-semitism.
It came only a day after Mr Corbyn wrote an article for the Guardian where he promised to rid anti-semitism "poison" out of his party - the timing of which was criticised as it was published just an hour before the Sabbath - a day of religious observance and abstinence from work for Jewish people.
But Corbyn supporters had enough, and started campaigning for Mr Watson's resignation.
It sometimes feels like people have been calling for me to stand down from day one but I never, ever thought I’d be facing demands to #resignwatson for standing up for people who are facing prejudice and hate.
— Tom Watson (@tom_watson) August 5, 2018
Those calling for Mr Watson to resign say that the party need a deputy leader that will support Mr Corbyn, and not 'stab him in the back'.
I really don’t see Tom Watson as a socialist leader or MP. The party needs a deputy leader with socialist views, one that can support Jeremy Corbyn in becoming a Prime Minister and most importantly one that will not back stab him. Tom has to go, his time is up. #ResignWatson
— Nadeem Ahmed (@Muqadaam) August 5, 2018
You do not support the present Labour Party. You do not publicise or talk enthusiastically in any way about its manifesto. The best action you can take now is to #ResignTomWatson
— G.A.Howkins (@HowkinsAuthor) August 6, 2018
I am struggling. I am trying to find something positive to say about Tom Watson's time as deputy. I accept he did good work on Leveson. But can anyone point me to anything else he has done, since 2015, that pushes our movement forward towards winning the next GE? #ResignWatson
— 🕊CrémantCommunarde🌹 (@0Calamity) August 5, 2018
We simply cannot afford to have a deputy leader who jeopardises our movement at every chance he gets because we need a Corbyn government now that will end austerity and improve the lives of millions of people. We can’t have a deputy who sides with the Tories. #ResignWatson
— Hasan Patel🌹 (@CorbynistaTeen) August 5, 2018
Does Tom Watson want to scupper Labour's chances of winning next the GE by his unacceptable behaviour. #ResignWatson
— Donna Sloane (@ToriesMustGo) August 6, 2018
In support of Mr Watson, the editor of the Jewish Chronicle, Stephen Pollard, wrote on Twitter that it was "genuinely frightening" that these people would become the "foundation of [Corbyn's] support base" if he wins.
David Miliband, a former foreign secretary, offered his support. He wished his thanks to Mr Watson for "recognising the gravity of Labour's situation."
Thank you @Tom_watson for recognizing the gravity of Labour’s situation. Power reveals. In this case it has revealed myopia and sectarianism at the top, betraying Labour’s history and failing the needs of the country. https://t.co/E4o4tRoGFD
— David Miliband (@DMiliband) August 5, 2018
The key point about the #resignwatson crew is that if Corbyn wins, these people will be the foundation of his support base.
— Stephen Pollard (@stephenpollard) August 5, 2018
It’s genuinely frightening
So I joined twitter when we all supported Ed milliband, it was fun, people like me wondered if he could win, but we supported none the less. It was FUN. This is so far removed from that time. #ResignWatson is an indication of how dark @UKLabour is now.
— Emma Picken. (@emmacpicken) August 5, 2018
Truely bleak.
Imagine demanding the resignation of our Deputy Leader because he’s called for meaningful action against racism. The absolute state of the #resignWatson cesspit and those who swim in it. https://t.co/1TWPL2ETgf
— Wes Streeting MP (@wesstreeting) August 5, 2018
If you are calling for @tom_watson to resign because he's upset you wanting to tackle racism within the Labour Party so that it doesn't stop us winning an election or living our values as Labour, you've spent too long in the midday sunshine.... #labourfamily
— stellacreasy (@stellacreasy) August 5, 2018
