AMP Patron resigns from the Labour Party

Posted: February 22nd, 2019

IAN AUSTIN MP – the AMP’s patron in the House of Commons – has resigned from the Labour Party and will sit as an Independent, though he will not be joining other Labour rebels in The Independent Group.

Ian said said: “The Labour party has been my life, so this has been the hardest decision I have ever had to take. But I have to be honest, and the truth is that I have become ashamed of the Labour party under Jeremy Corbyn.”

Ian Austin was adopted as a baby by a Jewish couple, refugees from the Holocaust, and it was known the anti-Semitism issue caused him great distress. In his resignation statement, he said: “I am appalled at the offence and distress Jeremy Corbyn and the Labour party have caused to Jewish people. It is terrible that a culture of extremism, anti-Semitism and intolerance is driving out good MPs and decent people who have committed their life to mainstream politics.”

Former AMP chairman Tom Brown said: “Ian has always taken a special interest in our affairs. He told me his first ambition when he left school was to get an NUJ card.

“It will continue to be helpful to be able to consult with Ian, who has worked in the background on issues such as Equitable Life, and threats to company pensions.”