Simon Danczuk calls for Jeremy Corbyn to stand down

Photo: Journeaux

Simon Danczuk

Rochdale Labour MP Simon Danczuk was writing in the Tory press again this weekend and this time not just criticising his party leader, Jeremy Corbyn, but asking him to stand down.

Mr Danczuk says in his column in The Sun that the Labour Party has "reached the point of no return", adding that "this madness can't continue".

He calls for senior Labour Party MPs, Alan Johnson, Hilary Benn and Rosie Winterton, to plead with Mr Corbyn to "step aside for the good of the party".

Mr Danczuk's column has unleashed an entirely predictable storm of criticism on social media, where his regular Sunday columns in the right wing press get a mauling from many Labour, particularly Corbyn, supporters who are appalled at his "disloyalty".

Len McCluskey, the Unite secretary general, has blasted Labour MPs for trying to force Corbyn out. In a column for the Huffington Post, Mr McCluskey said they are "playing with fire". Adding: "Any attempt to force Labour's leader out through a Westminster Palace-coup will be resisted all the way by Unite and, I believe, most party members and affiliated unions.”

However, the Labour leader does not command the same level of respect locally as he appears to do nationally and it may be that Mr Danczuk's apparent immunity to the cries of disloyalty over his constant criticism of Mr Corbyn stems from his confidence that he retains not just the backing of the Rochdale Constituency Labour Party but also that feedback from constituents during his regular weekend door knocking sessions also emboldens him, for it is understood that Mr Corbyn is seen by the majority locally as a liability for Labour, even by many long term Labour voters.

Whether it is wise of Mr Danczuk to continually use (some say be used by) the right wing press to try and usurp Mr Corybn after his landslide victory in the Labour leadership contest is a question that many are asking and will only be answered in time.