Corbynista MP sends his colleagues into a spin over women-only train carriages

Well, that lasted long. Since Jeremy Corbyn’s better-than-expected election result, Labour politicians have done their best to heal old wounds and put on a united front. However, in a sign that the party remains fractious, a row has broken out over an idea many MPs thought to be in the dustbin.

During the Labour leadership campaign, Jeremy Corbyn proposed the idea of introducing women-only train carriages. However, the idea was given short shrift by his colleagues, who saw it as a step backwards and it was subsequently dropped. Now shadow fire minister Chris Williamson has brought it back to the fray. Following the news that sexual offences on trains have more than doubled in the past five years,  he suggested creating separate travelling arrangements for female passengers might offer ‘a safe space’ for women.

Somewhat predictably, the Corbynista’s comments have riled many of his female colleagues – who don’t see segregation as the solution to sexual harassment. Labour’s Jess Phillips has branded the suggestion an ‘absolutely terrible idea’ – suggesting the Labour frontbencher is taking his feminist cues from Saudi Arabia.