LONDON — Labour MP Frank Field resigned Thursday because of “nastiness” in the party and its handling of the escalating anti-Semitism crisis.
Field, the MP for Birkenhead, issued a statement on Thursday saying he was resigning the Labour whip and would sit as an independent MP.
In the statement, Field said: “The party must recognise the culture of nastiness, bullying, and intimidation that it has allowed to grow unchecked and expel local members whose public conduct is simply disgraceful.
“The party needs to send out a clear signal against nastiness, bullying, and intimidation at every level by taking effective action.”
He added that the “current excuses for the party’s toleration of anti-Semitism must cease and the party needs to regain its position as being the leading force against racism in this country.”
His resignation led to fears within Labour that more MPs could follow suit. John Woodcock and Jared O’Mara have also resigned the Labour whip over the handling of separate misconduct claims against them.
Party leader Jeremy Corbyn had long remained silent despite almost-daily revelations about anti-Semitism in the Labour Party, but earlier this month acknowledged “there is a real problem.”