Former Labour minister urges voters to back Tories and stop Corbyn becoming prime minister
Independent election candidate Ivan Lewis urges constituents to vote against him on 12 December
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A former Labour minister has issued a plea to voters to back the Conservatives to keep Jeremy Corbyn out of 10 Downing Street.
Ivan Lewis, who was Labour’s MP for Bury South for 22 years and served in the administrations of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown as well as Ed Miliband’s shadow cabinet, cited “serious antisemitism” within the party and Mr Corbyn’s “hostility” towards key allies as reasons for abandoning Labour.
Mr Lewis quit Labour last year after being suspended over a sexual harassment allegation, which he denied, and is standing as an independent candidate in the 12 December election.
He urged Bury South residents to vote against him in favour of his Tory rival Christian Wakeford and apologised to supporters who had already cast their postal ballot for him.
In a post on Facebook, he said voting Conservative in the constituency was “the only way for decent people of all faiths and none to say no to antisemitism and show solidarity with their Jewish neighbours, workmates and friends”.
In a message to former party colleagues, Mr Lewis said: “Corbyn’s Labour Party is not the Labour Party of our parents and grandparents.
“It is unreasonable of me to expect you all to leave the party because of antisemitism. But it is unreasonable of you to admit there is a serious antisemitism problem in the party then expect me to join you in the mantra ‘But the most important thing is we have a Labour government’. Imagine if this institutionalised racism was against any other minority community.”
He also criticised Mr Corbyn for what he said were “unaffordable” manifesto promises and said the party leader “has preferred the values of Russia and Iran to Britain and America all his political life (and) supported terrorists who have committed the most terrible acts of violence against innocent people”.
He said: “At this election, the future of our country is on the line like never before. The only way to stop Corbyn in Bury South is to vote Conservative.”
Mr Lewis’s announcement follows calls from former Labour MPs Ian Austin, John Woodcock and Tom Harris for voters to back the Tories, while ex-MP Kate Hoey has said she will vote DUP.
A Labour source said: “Ivan Lewis was suspended from Labour while we investigated serious sexual harassment complaints about him. He left the party shortly before his hearing, denying the complainants their opportunity for their case to be heard. He is not a credible voice on tackling discrimination.”
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments