Corbyn leads calls for Rebecca Long-Bailey to be reinstated as Labour civil war threatens to erupt
JEREMY Corbyn led calls for Sir Keir Starmer to reinstate sacked frontbencher Rebecca Long-Bailey as a Labour civil war threatened to erupt.
The former leader was among a group of hard-left MPs who slammed the decision to fire the shadow education secretary in an anti-Semitism row.
The gang, called the Socialist Campaign Group, includes diehard Corbynistas such as Richard Burgon and Kate Osamor.
It met party leader Sir Keir to launch an official protest against Ms Long Bailey’s dismissal.
She was axed after praising actress Maxine Peake’s claim that Israeli spies taught US cops the chokehold that killed George Floyd.
Sir Keir stepped in to sack her after she repeatedly refused his demands to delete her tweet.
It is still up even though Ms Peake later admitted her claim was “inaccurate”.
Mr Corbyn also urged Sir Keir to take a tough line on Israeli annexation of Palestinian territory.
And Mr Burgon later praised his Corbynista colleague Ms Long Bailey for blocking the Labour leader from backing the PM’s attempts to get kids back to school after lockdown.
He said: “Becky did a great job as shadow education secretary standing with unions against Tory attempts to force schools to reopen.
“She has an important role to play in Labour’s future and I don’t think she should’ve been sacked.”
The meeting came as the pro-Corbyn wing of the party pleaded with disillusioned members to stay and fight against the leader.
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