Furious ousted Labour MP Caroline Flint blasts Emily Thornberry for calling Leave voters ‘stupid’
FURIOUS ousted Labour MP Caroline Flint has blasted Emily Thornberry for calling voters “stupid” as she blamed Remainers for costing the party the election.
Ms Flint said anti-Brexit frontbenchers like Keir Starmer, Hilary Benn, Yvette Cooper and Thornberry were responsible for sacrificing dozens of Labour seats.
RED RAGE
The ex-MP represented the Leave-backing Don Valley from 1997 until she was ousted by Tory candidate Nick Fletcher on Thursday.
When pushed on whether Mr Starmer should replace Jeremy Corbyn, MsFlint told Sky’s Sophy Ridge: “Keir Starmer led us to a policy that didn’t listen to Labour leave voices that urged caution.
“He led us down a path of a 2nd referendum and I’m afraid Emily Thornberry as well.
She said to one of my colleagues ‘I’m glad my constituents aren’t as stupid as yours’. I’m sorry it’s unacceptable.
Caroline Flint
“She said to one of my colleagues ‘I’m glad my constituents aren’t as stupid as yours’.
“I’m sorry it’s unacceptable.”
She added: “We shouldn’t for one minute think that a change of leader is going to create an election victory for us.”
Ms Flint said anyone in the party who did not believe Mr Corbyn and Brexit were at fault for losing votes was “in denial”.
SACRIFICED SEATS
She said that ardent Remainers in the party were at fault for losing the trust of voters outside of metropolitan areas.
Ms Flint told Ridge: “I do believe that in pursuit of Remain, they have contributed to sacrificing 59 seats.
“But don’t worry we’ve got Putney and we’ve got Canterbury, with all due respect to Labour MPs in those constituencies – I don’t think it was worth it.”
I do believe that in pursuit of Remain, they have contributed to sacrificing 59 seats.
Caroline Flint
Ms Flint said that the next leader of the party can’t be “Corbyn without a beard” and doubted that any of the favourites – like Mr Starmer and Ms Thornberry – could deliver the votes Labour needs.
Instead she suggested Lisa Nandy or Rebecca Long-Bailey should be the next boss.
Ms Flint said: “I don’t believe anybody who have been the architects of our euro policy in the past few years are credible to be leader, they won’t win back these seats.
MOST READ IN POLITICS
“I don’t believe there is any credibility for these people.
“There was an underlying scepticism among my voters on whether Labour could deliver.
“This is a terrible time for the Labour party and the Labour movement.”
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368 . You can WhatsApp us on 07810 791 502. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.