Joan Ryan, who became the eighth MP to quit the Labour Party over Jeremy Corbyn's leadership, has said the party had become "infected" with anti-Semitism.
"He (Mr Corbyn) has introduced or allowed to happen in our party this scourge of anti-Semitism," she told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme.
"It has completely infected the party and at every opportunity to deal with it he has not done so.
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"We have had a whitewash report, we have had unprecedented actions of Jewish people feeling they have to demonstrate against the Labour Party in Parliament Square.
After 4 decades, I have made the terribly difficult decision to resign from the Labour Party. It is the greatest honour of my life to represent the people of #EnfieldNorth. I will continue to represent and speak up for them as a member of the @TheIndGroup of MPs #ChangePolitics pic.twitter.com/BroRRoVSGk
— Joan Ryan MP (@joanryanEnfield) February 19, 2019
"We have had endless calls on him to deal with the most virulent, vile anti-Semitism - bullying, abuse and aggression - and he has turned away from doing that."
Ms Ryan said the problems of anti-Semitism in Labour only began when Mr Corbyn became leader.
"We never had this problem in the party before he was the leader. It comes with him, it is part of his politics I am afraid," she said.
"Labour should be the bulwark against that - against the hard right and their views. Instead of that, inside Labour it is perpetuating anti-Semitism."
Ms Ryan said she was also unhappy with Mr Corbyn's position on Brexit.
"The other huge problem is that I think Jeremy Corbyn is aiding and abetting a hard Brexit," she said.
She said there was a "large number" of Labour MPs who were unhappy with the leadership and that she hoped like-minded members from any party would consider joining the new Independent Group.
"I hope that all like-minded MPs from whatever party will want to join this group. It is early days. It is about trying to change the political weather," she said.
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Veteran Conservative former cabinet minister Ken Clarke said he believed some Tory MPs were considering joining the new Independent Group.
"Certainly some Members of Parliament are getting very fed up," he told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme.
Characteristically brave from the decent and kind @joanryanEnfield.
— Ian Austin (@IanAustinMP) February 20, 2019
I’m proud to call her my friend.
It shows how much Labour has changed under Jeremy Corbyn that people who have fought all their lives for social justice and against racism like her are having to leave. https://t.co/ks2Y82ikHz
"There are some, I think - not including me - who probably are contemplating leaving if the party moves too far to the right and no longer represents what they regard as the mainstream Conservative views they have held for all the previous years.
"I hope that doesn't happen. I hope it doesn't come to that."
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