Why the Labour leader's supporters should take this 'coup' seriously
For those around Jeremy Corbyn, the usual attack lines are evident in this latest round. They argue that plotters remain a group of Blairites who have long been seeking to destabilise a leader they believe is simply not up to the job.
But to interpret what is happening like this would be a mistake. This coup is far more dangerous for Corbyn than his team might think.
First, many will recall the list leaked earlier this year, drawn up by the leader’s office of where Labour MPs stand in support for the party leader.
What is striking is that a number of those MPs listed as ‘Core Group Plus’, who were seen as largely supportive of Corbyn, are turning on him.
Shadow cabinet ministers Lillian Greenwood (former Unison official), Vernon Coaker and Karl Turner have resigned; Karen Buk has called for Corbyn to stand down, along with Shadow Housing Minister Roberta Blackman-Woods.
As of midday, Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Owen Smith and Shadow Energy and Climate Change Secretary Lisa Nandy, have also resigned, with Nandy calling for deputy leader Tom Watson to become caretaker leader of the party.
Add that to the news that the former Unite Official, Chris Matheson MP, has resigned as a PPS, and Corbyn’s problems are much wider than a right-wing plot to oust a left-wing leader.
Second, while MPs such as Emily Thornberry have argued that Corbyn’s euro-scepticism is in tune with working class northern heartlands, his failure to address the immigration issue has not played well.
And let’s remember the polling by YouGov in February which found that 81 per cent of Labour members planned to vote to Remain in the EU.
Corbyn’s lacklustre campaign to Remain will not have played well with members at all, hence the growing sense of concern among the grassroots of the party.
Third, Corbyn supporters cannot point to any evidence that they are on the path to some great general election victory.
Indeed, research seen by PoliticsHome suggests 150 Labour MPs could loose their seat if the next Conservative Leader calls a snap election. It includes MPs Ed Miliband, Stephen Kinnock, Michael Dugher, Yvette Cooper, Maria Eagle and Andy Burnham.
Fourth, Corbyn’s new strongly anti-trident Shadow Cabinet line-up rubs against Unite’s expressed policy position of favouring renewal to safeguard valuable jobs.
This is likely to cause considerable difficulty if Corbyn’s new team is to defy expectations and last anything longer than the next week or so.
The reality is that Corbyn is in trouble. He and his team now have their heads in the sand.
Ed Jacobs is a contributing editor to Left Foot Forward
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16 Responses to “Four reasons this plot to oust Jeremy Corbyn is different”
Paul Roberts
We have an honest leader, elected by the members. He also happens to be a socialist, a real socialist. If the PLP remove him by by fair means or foul the media will love it. The capitalist media do not report anything positive about the Labour Party or its leader. Brexit told lies, the “in” campaign exaggerated, Corbyn told the truth and was castigated for it by the PLP that did not understand or even recognise the truth. How can we call ourselves a Democratic Party if we let the PLP remove Jeremy Corbyn. I have waited patiently for nearly 50yrs to have a real socialist as leader of the Labour Party, how can I support a Labour MP that does not seem to accept or understand democracy? Yet I must if I want a Labour Government, even a sub standard one will be better than the fascists we are likely get if Boris and his millionaire sect grab power, as I believe that is what the Brexit movement was all about, a power grab, nothing to do with a benefit for the UK or its people. My support remains with Jeremy Corbyn.
George Lonie
The rank and file of the labour party voted overwhelmingly for Jeremy Corbyn as leader of the labour Party, the ones who are now trying to bring him down should be ashamed, and how dare they say that he is unelectable, surely this will be left to democracy of the British people and if they are indeed the dissenters’ are successful then in my opinion it will be meltdown for the Labour party, has no one taken cognisance as to what happened to the Party in Scotland, and if we carry on as a party run by right wing political careerist’s we are hopelessly dammed, I have been an active trade unionist for 48 years and a member of the party for 33 years, and a 100% supporter of Geremy Corbyn, a real socialist and honest leader of the party,as previous people have pointed out, and incidentally who has increased the membership of the labour Party by 200.000 members, My loyalty to the party and membership will end if these careerist are successful in removing the democratically elected leader of the Party, as Jim Larkin Said “we need more of sanity and less of vain and ignorant pride.
Tony
“Indeed, research seen by PoliticsHome suggests 150 Labour MPs could loose (sic) their seat (sic) if the next Conservative Leader calls a snap election”
It is this which is being used to cause panic among Labour MPs. Tristram Hunt alluded to it when he appeared on the television on Sunday. And it was alluded to on the Today Programme this morning.
However, two points:
“An early parliamentary general election is to take place if—
(a) the House of Commons passes a motion in the form set out in
subsection (2), and
(b) if the motion is passed on a division, the number of members who vote in favour of the motion is a number equal to or greater than two thirds of the number of seats in the House (including vacant seats).”
Source: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2011/14/pdfs/ukpga_20110014_en.pdf
The Labour Party has 232 seats (more than a third of the total of 650). Enough to block such a vote.
The article on Politics Home was co-written by Kevin Schofield who used to be the Sun’s chief political correspondent. Take a look at that article. No sources are given. I do wonder whether this research really exists at all. Why have you chosen to take it seriously?
So, it would seem that some Labour MPs want to dump Corbyn on the basis of an event that is highly unlikely to happen using totally unsourced ‘research’ which may not even exist at all.
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[…] back into the dark ages, when there was little to distinguish right from left. Of course it is not just the Blairites who are walking out, as the exodus has left a few loyal Corbyn supporters feeling that they are […]
Carey
You know what – I’m sick of all those who have managed to overturn the biggest momentum for change in the pol system by voting in such huge numbers for Jeremy Corbyn for Leader. How dare these MPs continue to make him and the Labour Party unelectable. How dare the namby pamby liberal media do the same? We expect it from the Tories, but you lot have done an even better job – congrats…..bag of snakes comes to mind….