It follows reports that a number of Labour members and supporters have received letters warning that they have been suspended from the party after The Sunday telegraph revealed that nearly 6,000 people have been reported to the NEC for abuse, anti-Semitism and supporting other political parties.
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Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is to set out a “transformative” vision for the arts as he continues his campaign in Scotland.
At the Labour leadership hustings in Glasgow on 25 August, a number of important (and not so important) issues were discussed.
It comes as allies of Mr Corbyn dismissed claims they could seek to remove Ms Dugdale if Mr Corbyn wins the leadership contest.
Relations are also in deep freeze with the Labour deputy leader, Tom Watson, whom Corbyn supporters suspect of trying to rally support behind the scenes for Mr Smith.
But Smith accused Corbyn of not doing enough to shut down abuse.
“Scotland”, he argued, “could see Home Rule, a form of federalism, independence, or some other – as yet unknown – four nation constitutional solution. I don’t do that myself and have asked other people not to and made it very, very clear – let’s have an honest, open and respectful debate”.
Mr Smith earlier said his “grave fear” is that the Labour Party will split unless Mr Corbyn is replaced as leader. “I have not been given the opportunity to refute any allegations, or a date for any hearing”, Draper said in a statement.
Mr Corbyn responded: “It’s an enormous honour to be selected and elected as a Labour member of Parliament”.
Mr Smith continued: “Even if the Brexit deal that is on offer in 18 months, or two years or three years time at the next general election is worse for the British people, Jeremy’s not going to put into a manifesto that we should reject it and act to stay in the European Union”.
“I am now blocked from attending Labour Party meetings, annual conference and, above all, voting in the leadership election”.
The latest row blew up after Left-wing union boss Ronnie Draper, who leads the Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union, was suspended by Labour’s ruling National Executive Committee.
“There is creativity in all of us but we need to give people the opportunities for this creativity to flourish”.
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The leadership contest was triggered after dozens of Mr Corbyn’s frontbench team – including then-Work and Pensions spokesman Mr Smith – quit in the wake of Hilary Benn’s sacking on 26 June.
