Update: 19 Labour MPs defy EU whip


by Sunny Hundal    
8:30 am - October 24th 2011

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Update at 12:10am
The names of 19 Labour MPs who voted for an EU referendum and rebelled against the three line whip are:

Ronnie Campbell
Rosie Cooper
Jeremy Corbyn
Jon Cruddas
John Cryer
Ian Davidson
Natascha Engel
Frank Field
Roger Godsiff
Kate Hoey
Kelvin Hopkins
Steve McCabe
John McDonnell
Austin Mitchell
Dennis Skinner
Andrew Smith
Graham Stringer
Gisela Stuart
Mike Wood

Green MP and Libdem Adrian Sanders also voted for the motion.

The full list is here.

—–

Up to 10 Labour MPs could defy the party’s three-line whip to vote against a debate on the EU referendum, sources have told Liberal Conspiracy.

At least eight of those have publicly signed up to the People’s Pledge campaign, which calls for an EU referendum.

These are: Ronnie Campbell, John Cryer, Frank Field, Kate Hoey, Kelvin Hopkins, John McDonnell, Austin Mitchell, Graham Stringer, Gisela Stuart and Keith Vaz.

There is an expectation that Roger Godsif MP will also defy the whip, as he is on the People’s Pledge Advisory Council. More may still to come out of the woodwork.

Both Kelvin Hopkins and Graham Stringer (a former Labour whip) spoke at the People’s Pledge congress on Saturday.

Hopkins said Ed Miliband was “very unwise” to call people “barking” for wanting to leave EU, while Stringer said Britain’s participation in the EU cost the country thousands of jobs.

Keith Vaz, who also spoke at the event and admitted to being pro-EU, said the decision to enforce a three-line whip against a referendum was “a farce” and promised to defy it.

Gisela Stuart confirmed last night she was also going to defy the whip.

Update:
Jon Cruddas hinted over the weekend he could defy the whip:

“This is about democracy,” said Jon Cruddas, Labour MP for Dagenham, who wants a referendum but would then vote to stay in. “This is not about if you are for or against Europe. It is about respecting the people. Successive generations have not had a say on the European debate. All parties have promised a referendum over the last couple of years. This will fester until a proper open discussion is allowed by the political class. If we do not, anger and resentment will grow.”

But he now tells me he will wait for the debate to make up his mind.

Update 2: Ian Davidson will also join the rebels.

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About the author
Sunny Hundal is editor of LC. Also: on Twitter, at Pickled Politics and Guardian CIF.
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Reader comments


1. Donut Hinge Party

I reckon if Ed was smart he’d announce he was playing the three line whip against the referendum to flush the UKIP-wannabes out, but ACTUALLY whip FOR the referendum. With sixty Tories and the Labour benches that’d be a majority and seriously discredit Cameron in terms of controlling his own party, forcing a vote of no confidence. Plus, of course for a formal referendum we could actually start to dust off some facts rather than lies, damn lies and stuff that sells papers. With the lag between now and the referendum actually being brought in, the EU will already have sunk or swum, and if it’s swam then we can start to pursue closer integration if that’s determined to be advantageous.

But unfortunately Ed’s not like that.

2. Malcolm Armsteen

Are Frank Field & Kate Hoey still taking the Labour whip? I’m amazed if they are…

3. Watchman

Nice to see MPs with principals exist in most parties – they publically support something so they will vote for it.

Interesting also that one of those MPs has a much better claim to be a European than most of us…

4. Bob B

“Nice to see MPs with principals exist in most parties – they publically support something so they will vote for it.”

In the 1983 elections, at which he was first elected to Parliament, Tony Blair wanted to leave the European Common Market, according to his personal message to his Sedgefield constituents. By the 1997 elections, he was saying we needed to be at the heart of Europe. By June 2005, he was saying: “that the time may still come for Britain to join the euro and dismissed predictions that the meltdown in Greece will cause the single currency to break up.”
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/blair-still-backs-joining-the-euro-ndash-once-greek-crisis-is-over-2302553.html

What has changed?

5. Christopher Lyons

it seems to me that it is the more right-wing tories that want us out of europe: so that they can remove all the employment and social laws which have come from the eu.

in other words, they want the uk to become more conservative and they see the eu as preventing that from happening.

i’ve never known what to think of the eu. but this makes me inclined to support it.

we really need to keep that employment and social legislation. and not to become the sweatshop of europe!

6. Roger Mexico

Watchman

Interesting also that one of those MPs has a much better claim to be a European than most of us…

I would have thought Gisela Stuart (if that’s who you meant) has exactly the same claim to be a European as the rest of us. What with the islands of Britain and Ireland (if you’re Kate Hoey) being part of Europe by anyone’s definition.

Or what other continent were you thinking of allocating them too?

7. Roger Mexico

Watchman

Interesting also that one of those MPs has a much better claim to be a European than most of us…

I would have thought Gisela Stuart (if that’s who you meant) has exactly the same claim to be a European as the rest of us. What with the islands of Britain and Ireland (if you’re Kate Hoey) being part of Europe by anyone’s definition.

Or what other continent were you thinking of allocating them to?

8. Jimmy

“Nice to see MPs with principals exist in most parties”

I’d prefer them to have principles.

9. Mike

Bloodsports supporting chair of the so called Countryside Alliance Kate Hoey is a total disgrace and should have had the Labour whip taken away a long time ago. I for one will never join the Labour party whilst this awful MP is a member of it.

10. Trooper Thompson

@10

Kate Hoey’s great. She’s one of the few Labour MPs I’d happily vote for.

11. Leon Wolfson

Yes, that really does say SO much.

12. Bob B

There are three credible models for the Labour rebels who want a referendum on leaving the the EU:

- turkeys voting for an early Xmas

- the walking undead

- Brain lites

There is no more reason for regarding a departure from the EU as a panacea as there were and are for believing EU membership to be a panacea.

If Britain leaves, the EU will still be there deciding regulations and standards that will apply to Britain’s trade with the EU – except that there will be no British representatives sitting round the negotiating table.

13. Ron Graves

Frank Field a Labour MP? Not if he was honest about it.

14. Mike Homfray

lets have a look at those 19 votes

Ronnie Campbell – Campaign Group, likely to retire at next election
Rosie Cooper – backbencher, unlikely to gain preferment
Jeremy Corbyn – Campaign Group
Jon Cruddas – maverick, out of favour
John Cryer – Campaign Group
Ian Davidson – longstanding anti-EU
Natascha Engel – overlooked backbencher
Frank Field – longstanding anti-EU, maverick
Roger Godsiff – longstanding anti-EU
Kate Hoey – longstanding anti-EU, maverick
Kelvin Hopkins – Campaign Group
Steve McCabe – ex-whip, backbencher, unlikely to gain preferment
John McDonnell – Campaign Group
Austin Mitchell – longstanding anti-EU, maverick
Dennis Skinner – Campaign Group
Andrew Smith – ex-minister, unlikely to gain preferment
Graham Stringer – overlooked backbencher
Gisela Stuart – longstanding anti-EU, maverick
Mike Wood – Campaign Group

15. Doug

I note the Green MP is merely ‘Green MP’ and not actually named – who is Green MP, the cats mother?

16. Alun

Usual suspects, in other words.


Reactions: Twitter, blogs
  1. paulstpancras

    Up to 10 Labour MPs could defy EU whip http://t.co/QPaPcNup

  2. sunny hundal

    Up to 10 Labour MPs could defy party whip and vote for an EU referendum. Several have confirmed http://t.co/a1orQPU6

  3. Chris Paul

    Only 10? RT @libcon Up to 10 Labour MPs could defy EU whip http://t.co/wGKKImNQ

  4. David Harney

    Named: the 10 #Labour MPs who could defy #EU whip! http://t.co/LBknyfyz #Europe

  5. Nina D

    Up to 10 Labour MPs could defy party whip and vote for an EU referendum. Several have confirmed http://t.co/a1orQPU6

  6. Nathan Rodgers

    Up to 10 Labour MPs could defy party whip and vote for an EU referendum. Several have confirmed http://t.co/a1orQPU6

  7. pseudodeviant

    Up to 10 Labour MPs could defy EU whip | Liberal Conspiracy http://t.co/GVhcNyXa – glad to see @giselastuart standing up for democracy

  8. House Of Twits

    RT @sunny_hundal Up to 10 Labour MPs could defy party whip and vote for an EU referendum. Several have confirmed http://t.co/IxcTPM3a

  9. Ross Brooks

    RT @sunny_hundal Up to 10 Labour MPs could defy party whip and vote for an EU referendum. Several have confirmed http://t.co/IxcTPM3a

  10. MorganGD

    Named: the 10 #Labour MPs who could defy #EU whip! http://t.co/LBknyfyz #Europe

  11. The People's Pledge

    @sunny_hundal at Liberal Conspiracy write about the Labour MPs signed up 2 our Pledge who will be voting againsts whips http://t.co/Vlz6Xs1r

  12. Alex Braithwaite

    Up to 10 Labour MPs could defy EU whip | Liberal Conspiracy http://t.co/RmzHCaYx via @libcon

  13. Noxi

    RT @sunny_hundal: Up to 10 Labour MPs could defy party whip and vote for an EU referendum. Several have confirmed http://t.co/WMbJqwZ8

  14. Dennis

    Up to 10 Lab MPs could defy Miliband & vote in favour of EU referendum motion, according to Sunny Hundal. See them here http://t.co/PyyWD9Tm

  15. Dennis

    Up to 10 Lab MPs could defy Miliband & vote in favour of EU referendum motion, according to Sunny Hundal. See them here http://t.co/PyyWD9Tm

  16. Dennis

    Up to 10 Lab MPs could defy Miliband & vote in favour of EU referendum motion, according to Sunny Hundal. See them here http://t.co/PyyWD9Tm

  17. EU referendum: live — Clearing and Settlement

    [...] Conspiracy blogger Sunny Hundal has also posted a list of 10 Labour MPs who could defy their party’s three line whip to vote against the EU [...]

  18. EU referendum Commons vote – live coverage | foodsecretrecipe

    [...] 2.08pm: Up to 10 Labour MPs could defy Ed Miliband and vote in favour of the EU referendum motion, according to Sunny Hundal. He’s identified them in a post on Liberal Conspiracy. [...]

  19. sunny hundal

    Jon Cruddas was among those who rebelled and voted for EU referendum motion. List of 19 Lab MPs here http://t.co/a1orQPU6

  20. sunny hundal

    Jon Cruddas was among those who rebelled and voted for EU referendum motion. List of 19 Lab MPs here http://t.co/a1orQPU6

  21. Liberal Conspiracy

    19 Labour MPs defied the EU whip and voted *for* a referendum. Listed here http://t.co/QPaPcNup

  22. Liberal Conspiracy

    19 Labour MPs defied the EU whip and voted *for* a referendum. Listed here http://t.co/QPaPcNup

  23. Red Maria

    RT @libcon: 19 Labour MPs defied the EU whip and voted *for* a referendum. Listed here http://t.co/HjmqaD95 > complete Lab list here.

  24. Red Maria

    RT @libcon: 19 Labour MPs defied the EU whip and voted *for* a referendum. Listed here http://t.co/HjmqaD95 > complete Lab list here.

  25. Mustafa Ozbilgin

    19 Labour MPs defied the EU whip and voted *for* a referendum. Listed here http://t.co/QPaPcNup

  26. Mustafa Ozbilgin

    19 Labour MPs defied the EU whip and voted *for* a referendum. Listed here http://t.co/QPaPcNup

  27. Matthew Rhodes

    RT @sunny_hundal: Jon Cruddas was among those who rebelled and voted for EU referendum motion. List of 19 Lab MPs here http://t.co/G25UDeBK

  28. DPWF

    Update: 19 Labour MPs defy EU whip | Liberal Conspiracy http://t.co/Kaq8PUWZ via @libcon

  29. EU referendum Commons vote – live coverage | Leeds Classifieds

    [...] 2.08pm: Up to 10 Labour MPs could defy Ed Miliband and vote in favour of the EU referendum motion, according to Sunny Hundal. He’s identified them in a post on Liberal Conspiracy. [...]

  30. Stacey Vail

    Jon Cruddas was among those who rebelled and voted for EU referendum motion. List of 19 Lab MPs here http://t.co/a1orQPU6

  31. MPs reject referendum on EU membership : The Rss News

    [...] 2.08pm: Up to 10 Labour MPs could defy Ed Miliband and vote in favour of the EU referendum motion, according to Sunny Hundal. He's identified them in a post on Liberal Conspiracy. [...]

  32. Owen Blacker

    19 Labour MPs defied the EU whip and voted *for* a referendum. Listed here http://t.co/QPaPcNup

  33. ? Moi ?

    19 Labour MPs defied the EU whip and voted *for* a referendum. Listed here http://t.co/QPaPcNup

  34. Chris Bramall

    19 Labour MPs defied the EU whip and voted *for* a referendum. Listed here http://t.co/QPaPcNup

  35. Liam Quinn

    @CJWallace91 This from a man who put a 3 line whip on his MPs 6 months ago on the same matter. No consistency. http://t.co/lIohUWvM





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