Momentum take control of local Labour Party in Tony Blair’s old seat
Sources last night claimed that Momentum campaigners had won key positions on the constituency executive in Sedgefield
JEREMY CORBYN’s self styled standing army has scored a huge victory – by taking control of the local Labour Party in Tony Blair’s old seat.
Sources last night claimed that Momentum campaigners had won key positions on the constituency executive in Sedgefield.
The County Durham seat became the springboard for Tony Blair’s revolution after he became the town’s local MP in 1983.
The then Prime Minister used a speech in the town in 2004 to defend the war in Iraq and promise a “relentless war on terror”.
One local source told the Sun: “Momentum has won positions on the executive which runs the local party. It’s happening in seats across the country.”
It’s a key symbolic victory for the campaign group – which has threatened ‘moderate’ MPs with deselection unless they “get on board” with the Corbyn agenda.
Two weeks ago it emerged Momentum wants would-be Labour candidates fighting for selection in marginal seats to swear a “loyalty oath” before securing their backing.
In one of 13 pledges, hopefuls must agree to fully implement the Jeremy Corbyn manifesto – which backs sweeping renationalisation – if the party get into Government.
Momentum’s putsch comes just months after Sedgefield’s current MP Phil Wilson said he was “no supporter” of Jeremy Corbyn.
He insisted that a vote in for Labour in the June Election would be a vote for him, not the leftie leader.
He won the seat with 53 per cent of the vote and a clear 6,059 majority.