Starmer says Gapes return to Labour is ‘tribute to hard work done to change party’
Former Ilford South MP Mike Gapes had quit Labour in 2019 under Jeremy Corbyn saying he was 'sickened that Labour is now perceived by many as a racist, antisemitic party.'
Lee Harpin is the Jewish News's political editor
Keir Starmer has welcomed the return to the Labour of former Ilford South MP Mike Gapes saying his decision is a “tribute to the hard work done to root out antisemitism, support business and to celebrate patriotism.”
Gapes had resigned from Labour in February 2019 saying he was “sickened that Labour is now perceived by many as a racist, antisemitic party.”
He was one of six MPs at the time, including Luciana Berger, who announced they were leaving Labour, and Gapes stood unsuccessfully as an independent at the 2019 election.
But confirming his decision to rejoin Labour on Tuesday, Gapes praised Starmer over his personal war on antisemitism in the party.
“It was essential for Starmer to promise action to root out antisemitism, Gapes wrote in an op-ed for The Times.
“But the way he has taken personal responsibility for chasing it out of the party speaks to the firm, purposeful leadership he has shown.”
Welcoming the 70 year-old Wanstead born campaigner back into the party, Starmer said:””I’m delighted that Mike Gapes has chosen to rejoin the changed Labour Party that I lead.
“Like many others, Mike turned away from the Party in recent years because it no longer represented traditional Labour values. But we’ve changed and there’s no going back.
“That Mike has chosen to rejoin is a tribute to the hard work already done to change our Party: to face the electorate, to root out antisemitism, support business, to celebrate patriotism and our NATO membership, not chastise it.
“I know there is more to do, and I’m really pleased that Mike will be with us in this ongoing work to change our Party so that we can change our country and deliver our missions for a better Britain.”
As the MP for Ilford South from 1992 until his defeat at the last election, Gapes became known as a staunch friend of the declining Jewish community in his constituency, and in surrounding areas.
He was deeply critical of the involvement of the pro-Corbyn group Momentum in Ilford South, and the controversial selection of current MP Sam Tarry.
Gapes also called for the resignation of Corbyn’s director of communications, Seumas Milne, following comments Milne made doubting Russian state involvement in the poisoning of Sergei and Yulia Skripal.
Labour’s Wes Streeting, the MP for Ilford North and shadow health secretary, praised Gapes return to the party, tweeting on Tuesday it is “wonderful to have Mike back home where he belongs.”
The Jewish Labour Movement also welcomed Gapes return saying he is “a brave man and fantastic former MP who knows our Redbridge community so well.”
Last month, Berger, the former MP for Liverpool Wavertree, also announced her return to Labour, having quit over antisemitism alongside Gapes.
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