Labour deputy leader Tom Watson has called on the shadow cabinet to “publically condemn” the bullying of a pregnant MP who is facing threats of deselection for backing criticisms of her party’s decision to readmit Chris Williamson, the MP suspended over his comments on antisemitism.
Ellie Reeves, who is 22 weeks pregnant, was one of 121 MPs and peers who backed calls for Jeremy Corbyn to remove the whip from the Derby North MP, who had been suspended in February for saying the party was “too apologetic” about antisemitism.
At Monday’s meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party it was revealed that a small group of left-wing members in her constituency want her to face a "trigger ballot" in a bid to replace as the party's candidate for the next general election.
Politics Home reported a Lewisham West and Penge party member wrote to the local party chairman John Clark: "I would like to put forward a motion of no confidence in Ellie Reeves our MP for signing Tom Watson MP's letter regarding Chris Williamson MP at our next meeting and also start the new trigger process to deselect our MP which you should have received from Jennie Formby."
Ms Reeves reportedly asked Mr Corbyn's office to intervene on her behalf, but was turned down.
Her case was also raised at Monday night's meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party, as well as at Tuesday's meeting of the Shadow Cabinet.
Labour’s deputy Labour Mr Watson tweeted on Wednesday: "A small group of members are trying to bully another pregnant MP out of the Party.
"This reprehensible behaviour cannot be tolerated. We will not accept bullying and threats in our ranks. The entire shadow cabinet will want to publicly condemn this too.”
Shadow Health Secretary Jonathan Ashworth tweeted: “My friend Ellie Reeves is a socialist, an ex-trade union lawyer who fought against injustices for working-class people.
"She’s campaigned against oppression internationally, eg trade unionists in Colombia for years. An excellent MP. Ludicrous no-confidence motion should be binned.”
Mr Williamson's readmission the party lasted only 48 hours. He was readmitted was readmitted last Wednesday by a panelpanel that ruled he should only be reprimanded but was suspended again on Friday amid a growing backlash.
One MP told the JC: "I thought the left had reached a new low with the treatment dished out to Luciana (Berger).
“But it seems like they still haven’t learnt their lesson and now they are attempting to bully a second pregnant MP out of the party.”
Young Labour chair Miriam Mirwitch tweeted: “MPs who are pregnant or on maternity leave should be automatically reselected. It’s wrong when bosses sack workers who are pregnant or on maternity leave. The same applies to MPs.”
A Labour party source said: “No motion has been formally moved or tabled. And in any case, motions of no-confidence have no formal standing and do not result in trigger ballots.
"Any MP who is on parental leave will not undergo reselection processes until they return from leave.”
