Tony Robinson quits Labour after 45 years over ‘complete s***’ Corbyn

TV’s Baldrick and ‘Time Team’ star cites Brexit and antisemitism

Television star Tony Robinson has left the Labour Party, citing the party’s policy on Brexit and its leadership’s handling of the antisemitism crisis.

The actor, best known as Blackadder‘s Baldrick, who once sat on the party’s national executive committee (NEC), said Jeremy Corbyn had been “complete s***” as leader.

“I’ve left the Labour Party after nearly 45 years of service at branch, constituency and NEC levels, partly because of its continued duplicity on Brexit, partly because of its antisemitism, but also because its leadership is complete s***,” he said in a tweet on Friday afternoon.

Mr Robinson has long been critical of Mr Corbyn, last January criticising the “leftist clique” that he claimed had “completely taken over” the party.

The former Time Team presenter was on the party’s NEC from 2000 to 2004 while Tony Blair was leader.

The presenter and actor is an opponent of Brexit, having attended marches in favour a second referendum, and taken his activism to social media.

His departure from Labour came on the same day as a set of mediocre local election results for the party, which failed to make significant gains in local authority elections.

The party has opened up a lead in polls for Westminster general elections however, and appears to be heading for second place behind the Brexit Party in the European Parliament elections scheduled for later this month.

Mr Robinson is not the first of Labour’s past celebrity backers to criticise the current leadership. Mr Corbyn’s tenure has also been marked by attacks from stars including Apprentice host Alan Sugar and children’s author JK Rowling.

The last year has also been characterised by running battles on social media between Labour supporters and countdown co-host Rachel Riley, who has criticised the leadership over its handling of the antisemitism row that has dogged the party.