Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Peep Show's Robert Webb quits Labour Party following rant against Jeremy Corbyn

Webb said Labour had 'made a mistake' when it elected Jeremy Corbyn as leader

Ian Johnston
Thursday 19 November 2015 17:28 EST
Comments
Robert Webb said the Labour Party made a mistake when it elected Jeremy Corbyn as leader
Robert Webb said the Labour Party made a mistake when it elected Jeremy Corbyn as leader (Mark Johnson)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

The Peep Show actor Robert Webb, a prominent Labour supporter, has quit the party, saying he is fed up arguing with “the Corbytrons” and “just can’t stick with all the posturing twats”.

Webb, 43, who has written numerous political columns, said Labour had “made a mistake” when it elected Jeremy Corbyn as leader.

But he also singled out Seumas Milne, a journalist appointed as Labour’s strategy and communications director, for condemnation. He said the idea of giving “the likes of [him]” £11 a month in party subscription fees “makes me feel sick”. Mr Milne has been described as a “hate figure” for those on the right of the Labour Party.

Before the general election, Webb endorsed Ed Miliband in an emotional article in which the actor referred to his mother’s death in hospital in 1990, saying she was left “at the mercy of an NHS after a decade of underinvestment” by the Conservatives.

During Labour’s leadership contest, Webb warned that Mr Corbyn was “almost GM-designed by [the] Tories to lose the next election”, prompting attacks from the left-winger’s supporters.

Writing on social media, Webb said of his decision to leave Labour: “It’s a personal choice and I admire those sticking around. I’ve just had it. I just can’t stick with all the posturing twats.”

He revealed his decision in an apparently spontaneous reaction to a Twitter posting by Hopi Sen, a former Labour official who has also criticised Mr Corbyn’s leadership.

Mr Sen tried to persuade Webb to reconsider. “This distresses me. Really. Stay. We may not deserve your loyalty, but we desperately need your help,” he wrote.

But Webb replied that he felt that half of Labour members thought he was “doing the opposite of helping… and tell me about it very horribly”. He added: “Eventually, you just go ‘fuck this’.”

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in