Labour must never become the “nasty party”, Eagle tells members

Angela Eagle has warned that Labour must not become the “new nasty party” in an uncompromising speech in which she also called for more work to win back supporters who voted for Brexit.

Eagle, whose constituency office window was smashed by a brick-throwing yob earlier this week, said the flurry of threats would only spur on campaigners to “build an even better society”.

The former shadow Business Secretary was speaking at the end of a tumultuous week in which she formally challenged Jeremy Corbyn for the Labour leadership, after which she was joined in the race by Owen Smith.

Tonight Eagle told a social for Labour members in Wolverhampton that politics has become “deeply unpleasant”.

“Think about what attracted you to the Labour Party in the first place? I’ve guessing it didn’t involve abuse, misogyny, homophobia, antisemitism and the opportunity to picket Labour events.” 

Corbyn’s left-wing supporters have faced criticism and Eagle has accused some of them of “orchestrating” bullying behaviour. Tonight she also took on the vandals who damaged her office in Wallasey, Merseyside.

“Let me say a few words about bricks and windows. The Labour Party I know took bricks and built homes with them. We opened windows to a more tolerant society.

“Those who hurl bricks through windows are achieving only one thing – they are spurring us on to build an even better society true to Labour’s traditional values. The Labour Party can’t become the new nasty party for women, or indeed for anyone else. It’s a place where everyone should play a part.”

Her words are an echo of an infamous speech to Tory activists by Theresa May, then chair of what was the Opposition, who said they were sometimes seen as the “nasty party”.

It is not known who attacked Eagle’s office. Corbyn has condemned the vandals, as well as any form of abuse, and said on Tuesday: “I am calling on all Labour Party members and supporters to act with calm and treat each other with respect and dignity, even where there is disagreement.”

Eagle also said Labour had “our work cut out” to win back the support of Brexit voters.

Earlier this week Eagle launched a “Keep it Comradely” campaign to try to ensure the leadership contest does not descend into acrimony.