Islwyn MP Chris Evans. Called a Scab Poor Dab.

The Wasting Mule  reports that A Welsh Labour MP who defied orders on how to vote and was hit with a torrent of online criticism has said he fears moderate voices will be driven out of the debate about the future of the party.

Islwyn MP Chris Evans abstained rather than vote against the Charter for Budget Responsibility because he argues Labour must look a “responsible Government in waiting”.


He was soon called a “scab”, a “Tory”, a “disgrace” and a “puppet” with Twitter users suggesting he resign or join the Conservatives. MPs who refused to vote against the charter – which Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell had originally planned to support – were branded “traitors”.

Mr Evans, who was a strong supporter of Liz Kendall during the summer leadership contest, said he had a better voting record than the two men now at the top of Labour.

He said:

 “I’ve never walked through the lobby with the Tories. My voting record in terms of supporting Labour is far better than Jeremy Corbyn’s or John McDonnell’s.

“The concept of me suddenly being this disloyal Labour outlaw is just silliness.”

Some of the online comments, he said, were a “bit wild” but he did not want to moan.

But it looks like he having at least a gripe'. I wonder who initiated this story Mr Evans himself, a SPAD or was he contacted by the Mule to comment

He said: 

At the end of the day it’s like water off a duck’s back. I’m a politician, I put myself up there.”

The poor Dab noted the contrast between the tone of the attacks and the “kinder” politics Mr Corbyn promised in his conference speech. The Labour leader told activists to “cut out the personal attacks” and welcomed an open debate in the party.

Former bookmaker Mr Evans said:

 “If we’re going to have kinder politics then we’ve got to practice what we preach... What message is this sending to the general public?

“On Wednesday I abstained because I believe we need to look like a responsible Government in waiting. How do we look like a responsible Government in waiting when some members see fit to launch personal abuse...
“You can have every right in the world to disagree with me but what right does it give anyone to launch personal abuse like that?”

So what was the Nature of the "abuse" Happily the Mule provides some examples.

 2raggaragga @TRUbigbass

@ChrisEvansMP ashamed to say you're my mp... resign and stand as an independent, you're just a Tory in disguise!

11:29 PM - 14 Oct 2015

Wayne Sullivan ‏@WayneSully62

.@ChrisEvansMP Scab. #FiscalCharter

5:37 AM - 15 Oct 2015
 

@ChrisEvansMP.fence sitting suits you, your resignation letter would suit you better. Shameful.

Catherine Feeny ‏@CatherineFeeny1

@ChrisEvansMP With respect, if you are unable to support the #PeoplesChancellor on this crucial issue, maybe you would be happier as a Tory

I would argue that apart for the "Scab" reference  the rest are fair criticism.

Maybe Mr Evans thinks that people reading his Tweets should simply and disagree with him should simply shake their heads and that Twitter is simply there for him to tell us what he's been up to and look at it in awe.

There is a fine line between abuse and criticism  but as we have seen with the constant labelling of anyone who questioned the supporters of Better Together during the Scottish Referendum as a "CyberNat"

Certainly some YES supporters were abusive but others who were simply  critical were labelled in the same way by a media that were constantly abusive to YES backers.

Indeed the attitude of the Media seems to be we can be as abusive to Politicians as we like but ordinary members of the Public can not.


Mr Evans has ben a MP for a long time and when he  Tweets

Chris Evans MP ✔ @ChrisEvansMP

My reasons for abstaining on Osborne's #fiscalcharter http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/labour/11931892/Why-Im-abstaining-on-the-fiscal-charter-vote.html …

He should not be surprised when some of the public criticize his actions He says that he fears moderate voices will be driven out of the debate about the future of the party.

What he means by "moderate" of course is those who in Labour who oppose Jeremy Corbyn's leadership . 

Backing or abstaining on Tory policies are not moderate voices it is the voice of the Blarites  who blurred the lines between Labour and the Tories for 13 years and who wish to continue to do so.