Labour's Berlin Wall

The Independent reports that Labour continues to tear itself apart over the Emily Thornberry affair as backbench MPs queue up to denounce the leadership of being out of touch with the party's grassroots.

Frank Field and David Lammy come from very different backgrounds and are not signed-up members of the awkward squad who regularly attack the party's leaders for political reasons.

So if I were in Ed Miliband's shoes, I would listen to what Frank Field and David Lammy have to say although it may already be too late.  

Ed Miliband's 'north London set' must be demolished to save Labour, say critics

Former minister Frank Field said the flag incident was 'the most serious thing that has happened' to the party

By NIGEL MORRIS - The Independent

Labour is dominated by a “north London set” who must be “demolished” if the party is to reconnect with its core support, a senior backbencher warned today.

The recriminations follow the furore over the sacking of Emily Thornberry as a shadow minister after she tweeted a picture of a house draped in three England flags. It was widely interpreted as evidence of a patronising view of working-class voters.

The former minister Frank Field said the flag incident was “the most serious thing that has happened” to the party.

He added: “It’s the north London set we’ve got to control. They are a Berlin Wall trying to prevent us reaching out to our voters, and like the Berlin Wall they’ve got to be demolished. Ed’s trying to move us on immigration and welfare and with one blast of a tweet she wrecks that and puts us back to square one.”

Another former minister, David Lammy, said the party was “culturally adrift” from its traditional supporters. He said politicians from “liberal, professional backgrounds” found it hard to identify with ordinary working people.