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29 June 2016
Stan writes to Christina Rees

I have reproduced below the text of a letter sent to Christina Rees, MP for Neath, on 29 June 2016. Everyone who follows what I write knows full well my feelings for the Labour Party but I recognise injustice and an attempt to stitch up the democratic will of the people when I see it. It's not usually me to write to an MP and I doubt I'll get a reply but let's see. If anything does come back then I'll post it up.

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Dear Ms Rees

Re: Jeremy Corbyn, Leader of the Labour Party

As one of your constituents I am extremely disappointed to see you join that renegade list of MPs who have now turned against the Labour Party leader, Jeremy Corbyn.

This act of rebellion has taken place at a time when those who most rely on your protection have been left in a state of fear and bewilderment. Against expectations, and within days, we have seen a vote for Brexit, the Prime Minister resign, a post-Brexit inquest that seeks to pit young against old, Scotland and Northern Ireland against England and Wales, London and large cities against much of the rest of the country, reports of an increase in hate crime, stock markets in collapse, pro-EU demonstrations on the streets of our cities and a host of other worrying events.

The predictions of the economic and social chaos arising from a Brexit vote featured large in the Remain camp's arguments. You and the Labour Party were a main player locally in these. So at least some of these events might have been anticipated. But this selfish and for some MPs, a self-serving act of rebellion has caused a complete collapse of an effective Opposition to the Government at the very time it is most needed. The effect on nervous constituents could not have been worse. Your timing could not have been worse.

There is no way that these cruel and divisive resignations, almost on the hour, every hour, were spontaneous. They were clearly orchestrated. Someone in the PLP and maybe beyond is responsible for organising it. They were designed for maximum impact on Jeremy's ability to stay on. The truth will out and it is my hope that those behind this coup, because that's clearly what it is, will get their comeuppance. Even your colleague Chi Onwurah is on record today as saying "a number of members of the PLP have behaved disgracefully". The resignations and vote of no confidence, the constant pressure on Jeremy Corbyn from statements and interviews given by Labour mandarins and apparatchiks, everything is planned and co-ordinated with one thing in mind - to subvert the approved, democratic Labour Party election process. You don't want a fair fight where Jeremy Corbyn is on the ticket. He must resign and step away. You have sought by your actions to demean this fine politician, to strip away his dignity, in short to bully him out of office. It is disgraceful, reprehensible behaviour that would not be tolerated in a kids' playground let alone a working environment.

As former Shadow Justice Minister and a qualified lawyer you must be more aware than most of the principles of fairness, decent behaviour, justice and abiding by the rules. Our society could not exist without such things. The conduct of you and your colleagues flies in the face of such noble concepts. The question as to whether Jeremy Corbyn is the right man to lead Labour has become almost academic because of the PLP's actions. It is now distilled down to issues like Crusader v Establishment, Common Man v Career Politician, and Fairness v Injustice.

The French philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre once wrote "only the guy who isn't rowing has time to rock the boat". Instead of focusing on Jeremy Corbyn's alleged inadequacies as a leader, I think many Labour MPs would have been better off using their grey matter and asking themselves – who stands to gain most from rocking the boat just at the time we are sailing into stormy seas? And why right now? The last thing I would do would be to make my Captain walk the plank. All hands are needed on deck.

As I write it seems that Jeremy Corbyn has weathered the storm and is standing up to you. Good for him, because if he does feature on the list of candidates in a subsequent leadership election, he will likely win. You know it, I know it - and he knows it. If that should be the way it pans out it is no good turning around and blaming him for the flotsam and jetsam that Labour will have become. He did not seek this fight. The blame must lie firmly and squarely on those who hatched the plot and who never accepted his right to lead the Party since the day he won the leadership battle.

Finally I would be interested to know why you have not yet posted onto your MP website or Twitter feeds that you have resigned? Were you hoping your name would be fairly anonymous among the others? Did you have the courtesy to write a letter of resignation to Jeremy and if so will it be published? If not, perhaps you would explain to me, as a constituent, your precise reasons for resigning.

I look forward to your considered response.

Yours sincerely

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