'Shameful' motion to oust Tom Watson withdrawn after backlash

The divisions in the Labour Party have been laid bare after Jeremy Corbyn was forced to intervene to block an attempt to oust his own deputy.

The left-wing Momentum group - which backs Mr Corbyn's leadership - had planned to force a vote at Labour's annual conference on scrapping Deputy Leader Tom Watson's position and getting rid of one of Mr Corbyn's most prominent critics.

That provoked outrage from across the Labour and union movements with warnings it would provoke a "civil war" in the party.

From the Labour party conference in Brighton, Sky's political correspondent Tom Rayner reports.

[eckyboy]

Instead of trying to oust Tom Watson get rid of Diane Abbott

[alanedwards]

I cant think of a single front bench Labour minister, who has anything to say that is worth listening to, the most unelectable Labour leadership ever.

[Jamie_Johnson]

Instead of TRYING to oust Tom Watson, actually just so it!

[Jamie_Johnson]

Wow SKY NEWS. It is your behaviour in siding with this man that is shameful. Tom Watson needs the boot

[theblackswanx]

seriously. Sky is not the limit, of your bs ;)

[jbh]

Surly they don’t have to oust him, would a year in the gulag not be sufficient? At this rate they are never going to overthrow the oppressive capitalist patriarchy.

[SRPC]

I’m not a fan of Labour or any of either of these two but I think it’s fair enough to fire someone who is a constant thorn in your side and undermines your leadership.

[ep]

Tom Watson wants to demolish Labour to take it back to Blairite days. He is playing the poor victim.

[cobbler]

Seeing the young people protesting about climate change this week. I wondered how their aims could met by our political system and their voices heard. The answer is they can't . Most people do not know their MP or have contact them. The people don't feel the MPs know what they want or even ask them. Lots of constituencies have been gerrymandered for a particular party. So for instance where I live if a donkey stood with a blue rosette it would win. We have a far right party or far right party with two leaders who do not represent most people. Brexit has awakened people to how dangerous our present politics have become.

[richiesquest]

The Labour party used to be a working class party they are now regarded by many as a ethnic party.

[quasimobius]

"Diversify?" IOWs, replace him with a muslim.

[ednwab]

Why are labour trying to destroy themselves.most labour voters are not far left, thats why Tony Blair did so well. Get back towards the middle and labour will win the next election.

[forplan]

If Blair, Brown and Miliband are united in their concern forTom Watson then no more need be asked .

[sirhoratiofrederickhermanv]

The man is truly delusional.How can he not see what he is doing to that party? Why oh why did it take me so damn long to realise? I am embarrassed to say I once supported them and ashamed. I disagree with many Conservative policies and yet now find myself drawn to them. Labour will be crushed and this could very well be the last time we see the Labour Party in this guise. Its rife for a fresh start, a new party in politics. #Bexit #NeverAgain #Marxist #LabourParty

[manyquestions]

didn´t know... wasn´t there... was there but did not participate...

[tEx]

What's shameful about wanting to oust a backstabbing fraud?

[HYUKLDER]

Socialists have history when it comes to night of the long knives activity.

[sheystapaul]

Why shameful ? I would have deselected him 2 years ago, and fired abbot, Thornbury and some others from the front bench, most of them have no charisma and only a fool would vote for them to govern the country

[peter]

Doesn't work having a deputy who trying to undermine the leader at every opportunity. One of them must go

[knightstemplar]

Corbyn and Labour what a let down to good working class people