Tom Watson seems to be telling Jeremy Corbyn how to do his job, while also reprimanding Emily Thornberry. Is he trying to steady the rudder while Jeremy Corbyn doesn't, or is he overstepping the mark?
Have to say that so far Jeremy Corbyn seems to be giving the impression that he doesn't regret the departure of the MPs concerned or care much about whether others follow them.
Jeremy Corbyn must take 'personal lead' on anti-Semitism - Watson
Labour: Disaffected MPs asked to join new group by Tom Watson
Disaffected Labour MPs are to be asked to join a new group within the party in a bid to avoid further resignations.
The move, led by deputy leader Tom Watson, is intended to give more of a voice to MPs from Labour's social democratic tradition.
...
Shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry has said those who resigned from her party had "betrayed" their seats and would be "crushed" if by-elections were held.
Speaking on Saturday at a Labour rally in Nottinghamshire, she said she would rather die than join a new party.
In response, Mr Watson told the BBC's Andrew Marr show that he thought "dying is a virtue that is over-rated" and said it was "incumbent on all of us to dial down the rhetoric".
Emily Thornberry is getting some push-back on Twitter, e.g.:
Emily Thornberry:
""Stand tall, stand firm, be proud. We are the future and they are the past. Our future is coming and it's coming soon." My message to the brilliant rally in Broxstowe today"
Aunt Olive: "It was a rabble-rousing, hateful speech. The in group/out group language of “betrayal” and “crushing” opponents is the language of fascism. Shameful stuff."
Penny D: "Well said Aunt"
Aunt Olive: "Thanks. I’m genuinely appalled to hear such divide and rule rhetoric used by a senior Labour politician"
dave burnham: "List to your Tory mates in parliament and in your right wing media"
Aunt Olive: "There you go with more divide and rule nonsense. I’ve been marching for abortion rights, education, gay rights, health funding, nuclear disarmament and against wars for decades. How dare you make assumptions about my political beliefs in an effort to marginalise my opinion."
Penny D: "Aunt Olive in brilliant form today - but so right fed up with that old mantra about joining the Tories just because you disagree"
Aunt Olive: "Thanks dear. Corbyn’s Labour has a tendency to resort to personal abuse rather than engage with actual arguments."
Chris Allen: "Couldn't put it better myself. I am sick of the 'holier than thou' attitude of Corbyn's aggressive followers who do nothing but resort to petty insults and childish assumptions when you disagree with what their beloved leader has to say. The sooner this cult dies out, the better."
Aunt Olive: "Well said. Sadly I fear the Labour Party has already been destroyed."
Melanie Pownall-Harris: "The New Labour Party is dying because they were merely a shadow puppet of Thatcher Neoliberalism; aren’t you excited that we stand on the brink of the death of Neoliberalism, & PostCapitalism will fill the void with young people singing F@ck Teresa May! We can’t afford status quo"
etc.
This thread:
twitter.com/HelpfulOlive/status/1099377369679364097
Whole thread:
twitter.com/EmilyThornberry/status/1099327265303859201
Forums 
