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Liam O'Dell
Oct 06, 2022
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Spitting Image impersonator and comedian Matt Forde has come under fire for being “glad” supporters of former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn have left the party under Keir Starmer.
The funny man made the inflammatory remarks on Thursday’s edition of the BBC’s Politics Live programme, as discussion continued over party unity within Labour and the Conservatives following party conference season.
In a contribution which has since been shared widely online, Forde said: “The Labour Party, under the guidance of that wing of the party, had its worst defeat in 2019 since the 1930s. 200,000 members may have left, but the Labour Party’s now 30 per cent ahead in the polls.
“There’s a clear correlation between how the country feels about the party, and how elements of the Labour Party - frankly, that should never have been allowed in – feel about itself.”
He went on to claim former Labour prime minister Clement Atlee and NHS founder Nye Bevan would “turn in their graves” if they saw what ex-party leader Jeremy Corbyn “did to the party”.
Forde continued: “The way [Corbyn] treated Jewish people is a disgrace, so I’m glad those people have left, because finally, the country has the chance to vote for a party that isn’t getting investigated by the Equality and Human Rights Commission [and] isn’t spreading hatred towards minorities in this country.
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The comedian’s comments were challenged by socialist Labour MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy, who said it wasn’t fair to say “everybody that’s left [the party] has been for that reason”.
“There are a lot of people who were of that particular tradition who were there when Blair was in power, who were there when Brown was in power. They now feel that they have to leave, and I feel that that’s wrong.
“I think we should maintain that broad church,” she said.
Twitter users have also expressed concern over Forde’s remarks:
\u201cMatt Forde is a horrible person.\u201d— Mukhtar (@Mukhtar) 1665056935
\u201cMatt Forde is four months older than me and I can't remember him not looking like a middle aged man.\u201d— Sean Biggerstaff (@Sean Biggerstaff) 1665060161
\u201cFind Matt Forde\u2019s hatred of Corbyn but undying love for Starmer a bit weird tbh\n\n#PoliticsLive\u201d— David (@David) 1665055900
\u201cMatt Forde "actually knows politics"\u201d— non-fungible funge\ud83d\udfe8 \ud83d\udfe5 (@non-fungible funge\ud83d\udfe8 \ud83d\udfe5) 1665064925
\u201cThat Matt Forde, a man with no relevance, expertise, or democratic mandate keeps getting invited onto politics shows to spread right wing bile is a testament to how small and closed the british media system is. They're all just friends! That's why he's there!\u201d— John Duncan (@John Duncan) 1665061764
\u201cMatt Forde is to political commentary what he is to comedy. \n\nShit at both.\u201d— Jason Reid (@Jason Reid) 1665058139
\u201cWait, Matt Forde is in his 30s? Extreme centrism takes a heavy toll.\u201d— Mr Demos of Pnyx (@Mr Demos of Pnyx) 1665060051
\u201cMatt Forde? This was his reaction when Shami Chakrabarti sensibly suggested we should suspend IP rights on the Covid vaccines in order to vaccinate the world.\nhttps://t.co/NqstCuKAJp\u201d— Saul Staniforth (@Saul Staniforth) 1665062261
It isn’t the first time that Forde has sparked a backlash on social media, after he blasted a parent for bringing a baby to his Edinburgh Fringe show who “derailed large parts” of his show back in August.
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