Sir Tony Robinson brands Jeremy Corbyn ‘complete s**t’ as he quits Labour party after 45 years
The Blackadder star, 72, hit out after grim local election results for the party
BLACKADDER star Tony Robinson branded Jeremy Corbyn “complete s***” as grim local election results plunged the Labour leader into a fresh crisis.
Sir Tony – who played Baldrick in the comedy series – revealed he was resigning his Labour membership after 45 years in protest.
Party activists and livid MPs also stuck the knife into the hard left chief to complain he had proved an even bigger election liability on the doorstep than Labour’s indecision on Brexit.
Labour had hoped to gain as many as 800 councillors from a long expected Tory bloodbath in Thursday’s council elections.
But a shock ballot box kicking for both main Westminster parties instead saw Mr Corbyn shed almost 100 seats.
As one of Labour’s old celebrity members, Sir Tony announced on Twitter yesterday afternoon: “I’ve left the Labour Party after nearly 45 years of service at Branch, Constituency and NEC levels, partly because of it’s continued duplicity on Brexit, partly because of it’s antisemitism, but also because its leadership is complete s***”.
Figures revealed Mr Corbyn’s local election showing as party boss since 2015 made him the worst performing leader of the Opposition in 40 years.
He was last night on course to have lost over 400 councillors over the last four years.
In comparison, predecessor Ed Miliband had delivered 2,295 extra councillors during his first four years at Labour’s helm.
GRASS ROOTS BACKLASH
Some Labour MPs blamed the ballot box failing on the party’s confusing line on promising to deliver Brexit while holding up the prospect of a second referendum at the same time.
Pro-EU Exeter MP Ben Bradshaw dubbed the poll the “first electoral test of our policy of constructive ambiguity”, adding: “It showed that when you cower in the middle of the road on the biggest existential crisis facing Britain for generations you get squashed”.
But other bitterly critical Labour MPs called out Mr Corbyn personally, claiming he had been a liability while campaigning.
Neil Coyle told The Sun that his leader was “the Number One negative for Labour”.
Mr Coyle said: “Brexit was second. Anyone who still doubts it needs to get off the keyboard and get on some doorsteps”.
Birmingham MP Jess Phillips called for Labour to firmly commit to holding a second referendum to confirm any Brexit deal, saying: “Voters want to see courage in leadership”.
After the polls closed at 10pm on Thursday night, Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell predicted 400 gains – with Labour privately hoping for double that.
But yesterday Mr McDonnell tweeted that the message from the local elections was “Brexit - sort it. Message received”.
- GOT a story? RING The Sun on 0207 782 4104 or WHATSAPP on 07423720250 or EMAIL exclusive@the-sun.co.uk