Young Labour under fire again for 'hateful' tweet after eighth resignation from party in historic split

Eight Labour MPs have now quit the party to join the breakway Independent Group
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Young Labour has again come under fire for a message sent from its Twitter account after an eighth MP quit as an historic split continued to rock the party.

The group’s chairwoman said she “utterly condemns” the now-deleted social media post, which read: "Joan Ryan Gone - Palestine Lives" after the latest resignation.

MP for Enfield North Ms Ryan, who chaired Labour Friends of Israel, announced on Tuesday night she was quitting the party to join the breakaway Independent Group.

The tweet quickly circulated on social media and was met with criticism. Journalist Jane Merrick, who quit the Labour Party last year over anti-Semitism concerns, tweeted: "Who is running the Young Labour Twitter account? Do Young Labour people really want to be associated with that hateful nonsense?"

One user called it "absolutely shocking", while another said: "If those responsible for the Young Labour Twitter Output are really the future of the Labour Party, then The Labour Party is Doomed (and deserves to be)".

Miriam Mirwatch, chairwoman of Young Labour, tweeted that she had not written the post, and vowed to continue "fighting for an open, inclusive and welcoming Young Labour".

"To make crystal clear, I did not send the tweet about Joan Ryan from the Young Labour Twitter account and I utterly condemn it," she said.

"Multiple members of YL committee have access to the account. I'll never stop fighting for an open, inclusive and welcoming Young Labour."

She added: "Please don't think the online conduct of a few on social media represents the whole of Young Labour.

"There's so much talent, so many brilliant activists and so much to be proud of in our movement. I'll never stop fighting to make our movement a welcoming and inclusive place."

Ms Mirwatch had previously criticised a tweet sent from the account when the first seven Labour MPs resigned from the party on Monday.

While the septet were announcing their decision, the account tweeted a lyric from The Red Flag, which appeared to refer to them as "cowards" and "traitors".

"Though cowards flinch and traitors sneer, we'll keep the red flag flying here," read the tweet.

Ms Mirwatch later tweeted: "This tweet is entirely inappropriate. I do not support it. I am strongly opposed to Labour splits, but the below is the incorrect response.

"A member of Young Labour National Committee proposed that we delete this tweet. As this is so contentious, members of exec are voting."

Ms Ryan said Labour has become “infected with the scourge of anti-Jewish racism” under Jeremy Corbyn as she announced her resignation yesterday.

She described the decision to leave the party as “terribly difficult”, but said she had no choice but to quit over Mr Corbyn’s handling of anti-Semitism.

Her move comes after a group of seven MPs also quit on Monday, throwing the opposition into turmoil. Those who quit were: Chuka Umunna, Luciana Berger, Chris Leslie, Ann Coffey, Angela Smith, Gavin Shuker and Mike Gapes.

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