Jeremy Corbyn and Owen Smith in final push for Labour leadership votes

Sep 21, 2016, 01:19
Jeremy Corbyn and Owen Smith in final push for Labour leadership votes

In August the Sunday Times reported some Labour MPs had considered the party as possible escape route if, as expected, Corbyn triumphs in his leadership contest with Owen Smith.

The comments come just a day after McDonnell, the chair of Corbyns re-election campaign, apologised for the leak of a 13-strong list of hostile Labour MPs to the press.

The Labour leader told the Guardian: "I will put it to them that I've got a mandate, if I'm elected".

A motion from Mr Watson to make a decision on the finer details of the plan ahead of Saturday's leadership election result was voted down, by 16 votes to 15.

There, Corbyn outlined why he believes Labour needs to change direction. "Now they might in reality, in many instances, be organised by Momentum Camden and Momentum Tyne and Wear ... but I don't think it's helpful for Jeremy for those to be labelled on his website as Momentum", she is filmed telling the undercover reporter. The fact is that physical, mental and privileged abuse is abuse, and I frankly don't care whether the abuser exerts that power due to their wealth, position or because they believe it is a private matter.

The move comes after Mr Corbyn admitted he made mistakes in his first year as leader, during which he has faced mass resignations from the shadow cabinet, a vote of no confidence which MPs backed by 172-40 and a subsequent leadership challenge from Mr Smith.

Owen Smith's campaign team appeared to be considering the prospect of defeat in the Labour leadership race on Tuesday, as voting in the bitterly-fought contest entered the final hours.

It is understood Mr Watson's proposal would also allow the leader to retain the option to sack members of the shadow cabinet.

Mr Smith told Sky News' Murnaghan programme: "It's an attempt to further cement his position and use the membership as a means of driving a wedge between the MPs and his leadership".

Tom Watson will present his own proposals to restore shadow cabinet elections with a vote for MPs only but a source close to the deputy leader said he would consider Mr Corbyn's idea.

Supporters of Mr Corbyn say any plan have called for party members and activists to also have a say in any elections.

Shadow cabinet minister Jon Ashworth said he wanted to find a way of bringing the party back together so it can "take on the Tories".

"And Jeremy doesn't seems to be very good at disassociating himself from it".

The deputy leader also had a discussion with Mr Corbyn about his position which rapidly came to the conclusion that Mr Watson could not be removed from his post.

Len McCluskey, leader of the country's biggest trade union Unite, said critical MPs were "asking" to be de-selected with their behaviour.

In an email sent to members on 12 September, the Greenwich group wrote: "There are now some signs that the [Parliamentary Labour Party] and their local associates are now actively engaging with the Greenwich branch of the Co-op party which meets every six weeks".

James Schneider, of Momentum, denied allegations the group was pressing for mandatory re-selections.

He told Murnaghan: "Momentum has been extremely clear all the way through, we are not campaigning for any deselection".

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