Skip to main content
Ian Lavery clashes with Paul Mason after journalist calls for Labour to sack staff
Labour chairman Ian Lavery, speaking, criticised Paul Mason's demand that Labour staff be fired over the party's performance in the European elections

LABOUR Party chairman Ian Lavery clashed yesterday with journalist Paul Mason who called for party staffers to be sacked over the European election results.

Mr Mason accused Labour’s head of communications Seumas Milne, chief of staff Karie Murphy and Mr Lavery of creating a “fiasco” of the European Parliament elections.

Labour received 14 per cent of the vote and lost 10 MEPs.

On a Twitter thread, Mr Mason demanded their sacking, saying: “The strategy was wrong, the execution was wrong, the comms were wrong.

“If we want to win, they should be replaced by politicians and professional strategists.”

In response, Wansbeck MP Mr Lavery told Mr Mason: “I had a lot of respect for you, but calling for the sacking of hard working, committed Labour staff is a shocking response from a so-called JC supporting socialist.

“Whatever happened to ‘workers of the world, unite’?”

Mr Mason responded: “I’m calling for your resignation as well.”

Employees of the Labour Party have no right to reply to accusations levelled against them.

Mr Lavery fired back with: “A response I shouldn’t be surprised at. But picking on staff who cannot reply is the lowest of the low, I’m afraid. You should be totally ashamed of yourself.”

Mr Mason is a former Newsnight business editor and twinkle-toed dancer to the intoxicating rhythms of northern soul. His remarks have been widely condemned, with one Labour source describing a subsequent Guardian article of Mr Mason’s as being a “manifesto for an anti-Corbyn coup.”

Prominent left-wing economist and Corbyn supporter Peter Gowan accused him of staging a “palace coup” that would “keep Corbyn on as a ceremonial leader” while “replacing his allies and advisers with ‘strategists’ and liberal technocrats who would reshape his agenda, using Corbyn as a puppet.”

“It must be resisted,” he added.

The 95th Anniversary Appeal
Support the Morning Star
You have reached the free limit.
Subscribe to continue reading.
More from this author
Britain / 27 February 2020
27 February 2020
Britain / 27 February 2020
27 February 2020
Britain / 26 February 2020
26 February 2020
Similar stories
Paul Mason addresses protesters from Another Europe is Possi
Britain / 7 January 2025
7 January 2025
John Mason at the Scottish Parliament in in Edinburgh, May 2
Britain / 14 October 2024
14 October 2024
Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn (second right) has his pi
Britain / 6 June 2024
6 June 2024