Corbyn and Watson contact party members re abuse

Labour party members received the following email from Jeremy Corbyn, party leader, and Tom Watson, his deputy, following allegations of abuse in the run up to the Commons Syria vote and following the result. It reads:

"Last night MPs voted in Parliament on the issue of airstrikes in Syria. It has inevitably led to a big debate.

Labour MPs voted by a clear majority against the airstrikes in the end. But we agreed a free vote because of the sincerely-held differing views in the parliamentary Labour Party.

We will now hold the Government to account over its actions in Syria in the interests of Britain's national security.

And the British people also need our united action in support of social justice more than ever.

In the coming days our duty is to redouble our efforts to achieve a fairer Britain.

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In the past few weeks, Labour has successfully pushed the Government to change tack on tax-credits, police cuts and the Saudi prison deal.

Yet despite that, Cameron and Osborne are still cutting billions. Osborne has not reversed his welfare cuts: he's delayed them, and over two million families will still be on average £1600 worse off.

The Conservatives have no answer to the challenge of climate change.

They are failing to build the homes our country needs and causing immense harm to our NHS.

This is the slowest recovery in living memory, yet the Tories have failed to recognise the fact that our economy is facing severe challenges.

Their failure to plan the infrastructure we need is a threat to future prosperity and their claim to have overseen a Northern powerhouse is a sham.

The Conservatives cannot be let off the hook. Britain needs Labour now more than ever.

When the Prime Minister described opponents of military action in Syria as terrorist sympathisers he demeaned his office and undermined his own case.

That is why, as leader and deputy leader, our guiding principle is that Labour must never make Cameron's mistake.

Politics must be conducted in a better way - more civil and more respectful.

We all support and defend the democratic right to protest and lobby. And all MPs must be open to hearing the views of their constituents and others on matters of public importance.

But, as we have both said many times, abuse and intimidation have no place in politics. And the party as a whole will not accept such behaviour, from whatever quarter it comes.

Yours sincerely,

Jeremy Corbyn and Tom Watson

@jeremycorbyn | @tom_watson"

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