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Emma Reynolds MP stands up for Labour moderates

Emma Reynolds has warned Momentum activists newly elected to Labour's ruling committee against forcing de-selection on moderate MPs.

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Wolverhampton North East MP Emma Reynolds

The Wolverhampton North East MP said mandatory re-selection of long-serving MPs would stoke 'division and bitterness' inside Labour.

It came after Momentum founder Jon Lansman was elected to the powerful National Executive Committee (NEC) alongside other hard left activists.

It means that Jeremy Corbyn's supporters have a clear majority on the NEC for the first time, giving them huge power to dictate the direction of the party.

By tightening their grip on the party, the Labour leader's backers have prompted fears of de-selection among moderate MPs.

Mr Lansman has called for reselection in parts of London.

Ms Reynolds, who has been a critic of Mr Corbyn in the past, said: "I disagree with Jon Lansman and I disagree with anyone calling for the mandatory reselection of MPs.

"The truth is we have always been a broad church and I think that the bitterness that we have seen over the years and some of the rows we have had, have put that behind us, and we need for the parliamentary party, the membership and the leadership to work together.

"Because actually this Government is on the ropes and that is what we should be focused on.

"We should concentrate on taking the fight to the Tories rather than obsessing about internal procedures which will only create division and bitterness. So I don't think there should be mandatory de-selection."

She added that it remained to be seen what impact the election would have on the balance of power within the NEC.

But she said there was a 'unity of purpose' within the party that had not existed in the early months of Mr Corbyn's leadership.