Labour Party politics: Students of Manchester University dividing into two ‘very distinct political groups’ post-Jeremy Corbyn

'Disagreements within the Labour Party have extended further than the front benches,' writes one of our iStudents

(Getty)

Since the election of Jeremy Corbyn, support for the Labour Party has increased with membership doubling. Manchester Labour Students (MLS) also experienced a surge in new members at the beginning of the academic year.

However, cracks at university level are mirroring those on a national level, with left-wing students in Manchester dividing into two very distinct political groups - creating a very fractious atmosphere.

Disagreements within the Labour Party have extended further than the front benches, with issues - such as airstrikes on Syria and whether to support the renewal of Trident - making up just some of the controversial discussions being had among Labour groups across the country.

Just this week, another new group, Open Labour, was launched by activists - this one with the intention of rejecting “the sniping intolerance and divisiveness that has sadly gripped debate in recent weeks.” They stand in opposition with Momentum - a group trying to keep Corbyn’s supporters politically active - which has been criticised by leading Labour figures for being “an entryist group for the hard left.”

Student politics have not escaped such divisiveness. In Manchester, a series of events entitled ‘Manchester Left Labour Students for Corbyn’ - run by Left Labour Students - (LLS) were set up, which have been criticised for being divisive. In Thursday’s committee elections, they endorsed their own candidates, sending out an email to all of their supporters proclaiming it “vital that we get socialist elected to the committee” in order to “start making MLS more active and democratic.”

They released a manifesto on behalf of all the LLS for the elections, their main point being MLS should support Jeremy Corbyn and his values and aims within the Labour Party.

The MLS Facebook page has been bombarded with questions and complaints as to the running of the society. While MLS questioned why they didn’t receive a formal invitation to the LLS meetings, the LLS group questioned why the committee election dates were not being publicly made available.

In one such debate, a former co-chair of the society proclaimed the LLS meetings were unnecessary because “we already have a society for left Labour students who support Corbyn,” adding: “It’s called Manchester Labour Students and it’s a formidable campaigning force that has helped Labour candidates get elected across the country.” He went on to question whether the “democratically elected chair has the right to organise free from interference.”

One of last year’s chairs of MLS told The Mancunion that, when asked back in September about his response to Corbyn’s election, he was “disappointed by the decisions the Labour Party have made,” adding he was “not optimistic that either Sadiq Khan or Jeremy Corbyn will win the elections Britain needs them to win”.

Joe Clough, one of the key members of the LLS students group revealed he has received complaints from the senior members of MLS informing him he is being divisive. However, he cited the above quote from the previous co-chair and claimed this was the divisive move instead.

According to Clough, a local Labour councillor expressed disappointment in the way MLS has conducted itself this year, describing its current behaviour as “pathetic” and “tribalistic.”

In a statement, Clough said: “As a new member of MLS, I have found it incredibly difficult and frustrating to get involved in the club. Meetings, often incredibly important ones, are organised and cancelled at very short notice.

“As I am writing this, I have just been informed of the location of tomorrow’s committee elections which are a little over 24 hours away.”

When asked about the reason for setting up the ‘Labour Left Students for Corbyn’, meetings, Clough claimed they were set “for like-minded people of the left of the party so we could get to know each other and discuss politics and what we want Labour students to look like.”

He added: “In addition to the expected feelings of wanting the club to be much more socialist, these meetings have found a common consensus among members that they want their club to be much more open, democratic, and active. By holding these meetings, people have been informed and empowered to get involved in their party and club.”

Clough argued how the Corbyn landslide victory had a significant impact on the landscape of the Labour Party and broader left politics. He said: “Rather than fostering debate and discussion, I feel Labour students have chosen to veer in the other direction, with the Facebook group now no longer accepting comments automatically and the co-chair not answering my emails.”

Senior figures from MLS have been approached for comment on these claims from those on the left of the party. However, they have declined to issue a statement.

Twitter: @JennySterne