Jeremy Corbyn has allowed abuse to flourish within Labour and has been ‘stirring’ things, says Angela Eagle
His former rival for the party’s leadership said a 'permissive' environment had been allowed to develop
JEREMY Corbyn has allowed abuse to flourish in Labour and has been "stirring" things, says his former rival for the party’s leadership.
Angela Eagle hit out at the veteran leftie after she was forced to cancel constituency surgeries due to attacks against he and her staff.
She said a "permissive" environment had been allowed to develop where MPs opposed to Mr Corbyn faced abuse.
She told the : "I think he has contributed to this. It's all very well to condemn it, but there's a permissive environment.
“You can make any number of ritual condemnations as you like but you have got to be judged by your actions, not just words.
"He has been stirring, he needs to be held to account. We have contacted the police and they have said we should cancel surgeries for safety reasons
"I'm afraid for my staff. It's them that have been up there not me.
“It's them that have had to field the calls."
Earlier, Ms Eagle told the Liverpool Echo: "Because we have been getting so much abuse direct to the office and the advice surgeries are normally done in public (the police) have sent me an email advising me to cancel them."
She said the police "basically think it might not be safe - they do not want them to go ahead at all" and added that fears had been heightened following the killing of fellow Labour MP Jo Cox.
The MP told the Echo: ""It's with great reluctance that I'm doing this, but the safety of my staff is paramount."
Merseyside Police said it had offered advice to Ms Eagle - at her request - but had not told her to cancel surgeries.
Her Constituency Labour Party has already been suspended amid allegations of bullying and abuse.
And a brick was thrown through a window of the party's office last week after she announced that she intended to run against Mr Corbyn - although she has since dropped out and is backing Owen Smith.
Meanwhile in an interview last night the Labour leader insisted he was having a good time, despite the acrimony in his party.
He said: “Do I enjoy it? Absolutely. Look at me here, I’m very happy.”