Labour MP Alex Sobel has issued an apology after suggesting a fellow party member should consider quitting Labour over his opposition to what Sobel termed "woke policies." The comments, made by Sobel, the MP for Leeds Central and Headingley, were directed at Labour MP Jonathan Hinder, who had delivered a speech supporting women's rights, which Sobel described as "hard-Right."
In a video recording obtained by the Daily Mail, Sobel stated, "I'm not quite ready at this point to say that, because of that issue and that view, we should expel him from the Labour Party, he can make his own decisions. His view will not be the one that's going to go forward."
Sobel also commented on those who believe in biological sex, suggesting they "come from other worlds, with views from those cultures and have brought them in with them to the Labour Party."
Rosie Duffield MP, who previously resigned from the Labour Party over its stance on gender issues, criticized Sobel's remarks. She told the Mail, "It's such a shame that MPs like Alex Sobel cannot understand the serious threat to basic women's rights that their obsessive campaigning for men's rights causes to the ordinary working people they were elected to represent. Women are being hounded out of jobs for believing in basic biological reality and the right to protect our vital single sex spaces. I am grateful to Jonathan Hinder and a few other brave Labour MPs who continue to stand up for women."
Following the controversy, Sobel apologized on Sunday night when approached by The Mail. He stated, "I recognise that I should not have referred to a Labour colleague in this way. It is important that we always engage in debate in a collegiate and constructive way." He also indicated that he would contact Mr. Hinder directly.